本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 . [! H& g2 O* m, N9 [
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1. 尤其在商业上,报章杂志或公文书信上,尽量不用难字 (big word) 或过时的字眼 (old-fashioned word) $ d+ Q3 k! O3 I+ c( Q! D( h* r+ p* F e, B, w
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5 O3 y# C7 J: T2 R' D9 \Many people feel that moral education is the infrastructure of higher learning. (许多人认为道德教育是高等知识的基础) (如果用 foundation 或 basis 代替 infrastructure 就更明白)# }' a+ d0 E D) A4 ]0 N- N" ]6 A. b; Y
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Three hundred acres of land is the parameter of our university,s expansion (growth). (三百英亩的土地是本大学发展的限度) (如果用limit代替parameter,会更简单易懂。)* F8 t% H# G3 c7 B# g7 k
2 `; D" D' F o! A3 e+ _( r- MThis news has been disseminated all over the U.S. (这消息已散布到全美各地) (如果用spread取代disseminated,不更简单?) (动词时态是:spread, spread, spread) , f7 _' B' i0 |% ~1 }) B$ C3 i- k% x+ d
The president of this college is not diminutive in size. (这大学的校长个子不小) (假如用small代替diminutive,不更明白吗?)7 L1 F# Y3 _0 a5 W7 Z
; a1 `5 @+ y4 I: s0 a8 JI have to elucidate this document to my staff. (我要向我的员工解释这份文件) (如用explain代替elucidate,也许更明白。) . I# ^. h, }( A. g E2 c6 t6 o ' n! X& s' l, u: \' i/ YMr. A will endeavor to be a physician. (A 先生想尝试当个医生) (如果用try代替endeavor,会更浅白。) (endeavour = endeavor) N: \7 J& v7 p1 \# N1 W
6 T( O1 W8 o& O1 `( h' t- h# v0 o- }' `We hope to visualize world peace in the future. (我们希望将来看到世界和平)(如果用see代替visualize,也许更简单!) ^! K m% ~6 x* }/ [* Q4 E$ }- e 3 f/ j1 I) o/ N+ \/ iThe charitable organization solicits for our annual donation. (慈善机构要求我们一年一度乐捐)(假如用 ask 代替 solicit,更浅白易懂。)(solicitation是名词) c. W' A; Z0 L7 c; T8 O/ O$ z( T$ r 5 j# Q6 h' c& z" QWe don't know what may transpire when we have a new boss. (当新老板来后,我们不知会有什么发生。) (如果用happen代替transpire,也许更明白。)1 E# ~5 @, U( B$ v, J
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Please act as soon as possible on the aforementioned matter. (前面提过的事,请尽速办理。)(如果用 previous 代替古字 aforementioned 不是更明白?) ! f9 i) r |, f2 S 8 L5 l$ n/ T. C1 a7 `4 M这就像美国大文豪马克吐温 Mark Twain 也曾说过:「我不愿在字典里找长字或难字,我绝不用『metropolis』这个字,因为我同样可以用『city』这个字来代替」。罗斯福总统为了强调美国政府不会遗忘那些穷人,在一篇讲词里用了这么一句:「We are endeavoring to construct a more inclusive society.」后来被人批评咬文嚼字,卖弄文笔。如果用浅白易懂的字眼写成:「We are going to make this country in which no one is left out.」或「We are trying to make everyone equal.」也许更简单明白!' U$ C" O' S# ` f
& J3 P2 m/ @# k; h; Y9 b 6 f' Q# ]3 \; |* i) N2. 老外也主张不写噜苏或绚丽的字眼(flowery or wordy),句子应该越短越好,一句能用两个字,绝不多加一个。 $ x6 q1 m9 N3 e! l( P L, g. P8 l , V8 _* q H3 k$ S/ Y. v1 K例如:& T9 a- T$ O( y
& u) L! T' L1 H# T; e# M, pAt this point in time, we should pull together for our goal. (现在我们应该为我们的目标团结一致)(如果说:Now, we should pull......更简单。因为 at this point in time = now) n) ?0 h# v D3 R+ L! ?" c: w/ H
3 }8 D3 N1 f! Z# HDespite the fact that my English is not very good, I am not discouraged. (虽然我的英语不好,但我不灰心。) (如果说:Although my English is not...... 就更简短。因为despite the fact tha t= although = Though) : t( u: O$ r" i7 G+ p; `$ Y5 ]5 r2 E: M # z5 C5 p4 M$ E* u1 `I am of the opinion that Mr. Lee should resign from this position. (我想李先生应该辞职) (假如说:I think Mr. Lee should......不是更简单吗?因为I am of the opinion = I think) / F* y1 }+ W$ [1 ?1 ]8 m/ k; \0 p( J . T1 L5 W/ L3 d* K1 Z3 T) Q# Y. sHe quitted the job due to the fact that he was sick. (他由于生病而辞职) (若说:He quitted the job because he was sick. 更简单。因为 due to the fact that = because) # _6 |& {6 y4 i4 y( t6 U' y " s# {+ T4 B$ B0 FIn the majority of cases,he likes to ride bike to the office.(他通常喜欢骑单车到办公室) (如果说:Usually, he likes to ride...... 更简单。因为 in the majority of cases = usually) 2 }9 V1 v# y& E$ { 5 q! E4 N% E* v RShe shows a preference for tea rather than coffee. (她喜欢茶而不是咖啡) (若说:She prefers tea rather......更简短清楚,因为 show a preference for = prefer)6 S! L' c# v' }; T
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) , W/ p j8 y6 ?& d- [1 w( S ; ]/ t- X3 R! y o如果只说:I will tell Mr. Wang (about the matter). 不是更简单吗?因为 bring the matter to the attention of = tell = inform) (句子最后面:「about the matter」可以省去); 同理,也要避免意义的重复或用字的多余 (redundant); 例如: ' l$ y! u" P3 E. o9 N& U' [- Y8 v. w1 {$ Z7 R0 Q( ]$ `
The consensus(of opinion)is that we have to act right away.(大家认为我们必须立即行动)(of opinion 可以省去,因为 consensus 的意思,就是大家的意见。) * B. l4 x- U6 Y$ a9 z5 A5 w( W/ G0 |; l
The letter shows that the problem(continues to)remain unsolved.(他的信显示问题尚未解决)(continue to 是多余的字,因为 remain 已经有 continue 的含意。所以句子就成为:The letter shows that the problem remains unsolved.); ^3 m: @" [" a( w$ n- l ?
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He has made his (final) conclusion in his speech.(他在演说里做出结论) (final 是多余的字,因为 conclusion 已经含有 final 的意思。) 7 T3 j! [$ R8 J0 D+ i' y+ P 1 r: |- s. x( ~" ~8 Y5 SHe has had many years of (actual) experience in business。(他有多年经商的经验) (actual 也是多余的字,因为 experience 已有 actual 的意味)5 E% m: p$ V# z j0 M
7 @8 Y# I! O3 g6 r; BWe assembled (together) all the parts for our radio.(我们装好收音机的零件)(因为 assemble 本身就有 together 的意思,所以 together 是多余的) H& ~4 w" w% _' B& d+ p5 Q/ v
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Enclosed (herewith ) please find the report of the meeting.(herewith 是多余的字,因为 enclosed 就有 herewith 的意思)(即:附上会议报告,请查收) ( _% _( O* y% l1 }5 l! K: ? # O( N* N' C* N' r6 R* f6 U( C写到这里,想起一位深受美国人民爱戴,一向主张不写长句、不噜苏的美国已故参议员 Stephen Young,他每次受邀参加会议、演讲、宴会时,他的回信只有三个字「我会到」(I'll be there)......。也有人打趣的说:「讲演或写作的句子,就像穿迷你裙,愈短愈好。」(Like wearing mini-skirt, sentences in speech or writing should be the shorter, the better.)2 H8 T8 z& L- W6 _: @7 M6 j
: N! f# a5 o, g6 M2 B5 _" y. f此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。+ a* ~$ S- h% J0 o4 E
) `! e' Y. L. h. q" W, t% \ E4 i# |* x; h3 B# a4 C3.老外为了族群和谐相处,除不用歧视或偏见的字眼外,连男女性别,也要避免区别,以示「平等」。 " s8 p6 V) C) i9 S* J9 X8 ^. Z9 R/ K/ O' e+ Y& S B! q2 t6 ~
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3 ?% H$ `) ^0 z- SMankind are considered the smartest animals in the world。(人类是世上最聪明的动物)= Man is the smartest animal......。 (如果改为:Human beings are considered the smartest animals...... 就能包括男女。所以 mankind = man = human beings) (注意:mankind 后面动词要用多数,而 man 的后面动词,则用单数) R C7 m6 g5 ]2 l$ W+ K9 D! N0 x
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Manpower seems not strong enough in developing our economy here. (发展这里的经济,似乎缺乏人力资源。)(如果说:Labor power seems not strong enough... 也就没有「男性主义」的感觉。可见 manpower = labor power = work force = human resources) . X0 a' z* c! S5 R* }6 H2 V) a% F" V. ^" F- a
This small company hired a cleaning woman yesterday.(这个小公司昨天请来一名清洁女工)(如果说:This small company hired an office cleaner...也就没有男女之分了). m5 j! k2 y1 L) \
% g9 f1 h2 L- W# RHe (she) has been a committee chairman (chairwoman) since 1998. (自从1998年他就是委员会主席) (假如把chairman或chairwoman改为chairperson或chair,就没有男女之分。) (如指讨论会的主持人,也可称为 moderator 或 coordinator。)# H q6 D$ }4 b
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Many businessmen (businesswomen) feel their jobs are very stressful.(许多商人觉得工作压力很大)(如果把 businessmen (businesswomen) 改为 business people 或 business executives 或 business managers 就可包括男女了)(凡是单数 man 或 woman,其多数都是 men 或 women。) 1 e/ f# u1 a3 y; r9 C9 F* d6 @# ^. |4 {% h, A4 }& O9 g
Policemen (policewomen) should treat citizens with courtesy.(警察对人民应该有礼貌)(假如把 policemen 或 policewomen 改为 police officers 就可避免男女性别) ; w) L6 J8 | s. h1 A7 e/ k9 P/ w+ W
Congressmen (congresswomen) should speak up for their constitutes. (国会议员应该为其选民说话)(constitute = voter) (我们也可以把 congressmen 或 congresswomen 改为 members of congress 或 congressional representatives)2 D i. @. x, J' R. ^
! ^4 Z. p) V- i/ y. W1 e3 bStewardesses for international regions may get jet lag sometimes.(国际航线的空中小姐有时会有时差疲惫的现象)(如把 stewardess 改为 flight attendant,就能包括男女空中服务员。) $ P$ e6 M6 C5 R. R- ^& v* j* i9 b+ a4 V) }8 u4 J
同理,我们可以把 salesman 或 saleswoman 改为 salesperson;把 mailman 改为 mail carrier 或 postal worker;把 foreman 改为 supervisor 等等。 1 i) K& t- @! T, r _! Y3 } 5 s$ I4 Z* p3 v J当然,一些带有种族偏见的字眼,甚至有侮辱的味道(insulting words 或 slur),也要尽量避免使用,以免闹出麻烦。例如: 1 n( g# {" P3 w5 A 1 A4 `7 H+ d3 L- N, V- f对黑人不要用 Negro,更不能用 Nigger(用 Black 还可以),礼貌的说法是 Afro-American 或 African-American;) t8 T" Q( r- M$ |6 J4 w8 R( F2 Y
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对白人不要用 Honky(这是黑人骂白人的用字),正确用法是 Caucasian,或 white people; / y8 _0 e8 R+ n5 I* H% x9 E, P" ~, `
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 3 [! N$ L- Y0 J1 S: @6 N( [% B! s. w3 d: t5 O1 y% [( A `
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 3 M o5 i" E+ @, H+ ] 1 U I. T; b, B3 T( D; \3 m至于墨西哥人、西班牙人及中、南美洲人,包括 Puerto Rico,正确的用法多是 Hispanics 或 Latins,不过据说西班牙人为了维护自己的文化,倒喜欢别人称为 Spaniard。 更多信息请访问: ( M: p. _3 W k4 _/ ^( n* H+ a : X6 U) b' t5 C) \还有黑白结婚的孩子,也不可称为 Oreo(Oreo 饼乾外面是巧克力,里面是白奶油)。 e) N1 s e( {. }# Q$ A$ m6 s a- Q3 W$ j1 z6 ]; T9 i! V有偏见的老外,不叫华人为 Chinese,而叫 Chink 或 Chinaman(从前还叫「Yellow Peril」,即黄祸)。遇到这种事,怎么办呢?我建议:「君子不与小人斗」,最好是「不理」(ignore)或「走开」(walk away)。不过老外与你谈话时,如果使用这些不礼貌的字眼,那么你就可以说:「For your information,the word you just used is derogatory(或 inappropriate)to describe someone of my race.」(只想让你知道:你刚刚所用的字,来描写我的族群,是很不合适的)。3 c* z, D4 A B3 a# X; N3 _& r" M