本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ( d/ ]$ C- v. g2 F$ C
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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) " }+ z; s6 f- f$ [' {3 P: \0 c. I- l' q3 m1 ^( i3 \, z
例如:( l" _2 G6 y% Q* @. V q) K% n+ C
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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) . E0 u7 t" G- @$ q/ ]; @ 5 V. o7 C2 M5 V# P* S5 vThree 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。) . ?0 G9 f9 d! y+ I% B2 c+ A- D+ {: p# V; b' R
This 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) * V- @; f9 U2 L/ g . G* l' \9 e' R+ R- [/ W4 BThe 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?) ; @, K, @0 [1 U8 \3 L* N' j$ n0 | " I; g0 G6 r& n6 M# WI 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。)2 S* \# l- g# c4 T
4 L2 C3 C# t, P7 V; N, h7 \Mr. 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) 1 y3 w; b9 o9 W" n0 z& \% G8 A8 k - [. d; Z+ c9 S3 U, `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!)7 g4 X* G9 ?' u( o, r4 e
& ? C% a5 T% v) Y7 Z8 Q& YWe 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。)0 S0 X2 X. [" M% ]" H* g
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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?) & v3 A4 U b0 p/ f/ A# [" O. [) z2 K% j& \/ X+ o4 G6 s/ ]
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!( ~; J# ^: ^$ J4 i& v. G* w
7 ~# Q. h6 s3 o; C$ r, d3 F, o( Z% F3 l+ }: s! T- ~0 O 2. 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。2 U! M0 X- i2 r) _3 B z% a
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At 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) + o) d, r. S; f* {+ |* R& m: _/ D9 `' k J3 e
Despite 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)% m) `9 P. r- ?7 C) B
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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) # c# y1 }: L* P, C) A " S) p- C, P) n' `He 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) ! z5 d {: R" ~/ j/ J4 f5 y' F2 w, M- T1 q& U% l
In 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) + d& S4 `, L( |; J( X + i; \! @( h6 uShe 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) $ t- P+ Q; h& y4 ~! }; h% M% ~% |* r0 K
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)( ^' \; [0 o5 _2 ?6 A
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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: ; s2 b$ k2 q6 e3 ?5 i' P( I* E1 v' u- g8 J$ B: x' r& V# m. o
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。)8 U8 @% ~( j6 b2 F& u& i
! k3 A1 u9 r' a0 b% X# s0 fThe 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.): u2 J, S1 Z# H' k3 A
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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。) 9 ~+ a" w2 u0 O* G% t' D ' M0 R8 H/ f# D/ a, C+ Q5 K% ?He 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). I' k, l0 X0 [8 A3 z+ v
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We 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) * `1 p" B3 I* R( m$ h4 }# g7 t+ [$ q
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)' c3 p! p$ z; E/ Q
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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.)& i1 u# m6 _ l* n& p
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 % u, a7 d) X# m- D8 u. \$ k# u# v8 Q( g( b5 G
9 k7 m; X1 y7 `: r+ uMankind 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)+ F o K/ W& c
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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)* h% g1 e) G1 X4 e2 k
1 n5 P6 R: Y( C1 s$ |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)( `5 k1 |# ?- F
: f e' T7 ^. E3 L& X, x0 Z0 k0 DHe (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。) 7 C$ m9 |. A+ Q2 J8 y' c [; c1 w% r& e0 f1 n' g- d1 I
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。)) Q4 l! Y2 H* ?
! ~, v% W; D8 A7 [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)% Y/ e b( y! \
* O9 k6 G6 U6 N& Y% D* y% eCongressmen (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)( r1 G: H) u3 l" c- H- H
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Stewardesses 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。); }+ } O8 n$ o
7 V. ]7 F& f5 \9 e, s/ ]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。+ w$ h( H u$ c6 g$ J! v& a
/ V+ T3 N* L! e$ h/ {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:4 f+ Y3 e6 p" A
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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; 9 K" a5 W3 C+ u/ g' { 5 b) m& ]( [, J, V% w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;( }9 t. U( M7 n7 p( L; t' r
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 3 S9 h& j5 ?. ]$ O! S0 H3 B* C5 v# c7 J g; R9 {
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ! x+ ]% U6 O7 V! j+ V ) P& J! m0 |, n- N; l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: L4 }9 W0 K: J8 p$ S+ b" ^% I$ I5 U2 H$ s# R4 M* n; x5 i) }9 x
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)。- K; F3 n9 ^7 u* l
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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)。; G7 K9 {9 S7 p7 ~ y0 Y I6 X# m( S