本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 % W0 v! I, j$ t8 j5 I( m 4 F n9 V7 i9 ^6 D转帖 % i+ v o5 N; V- s6 e+ m6 q1. 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)# C# L4 G2 _8 `
6 d; o* P/ Q5 R+ l5 R$ s! p
例如:$ }2 v; z" |7 Q, e* h3 w% Z( Y
+ d& p; U2 ]4 Z3 N# L7 i
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) ! u% q0 F/ S3 K( W4 g5 j" Q; Z1 ]4 O- u% u
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。)* p- l$ I: q# v. C5 O* |
8 Q/ U: O i! f4 d) SThis 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) " U) ], ?8 U$ @" @2 `2 S$ @. w& ], [1 h/ z; ~: Y! l$ g
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?)# k# N S! C. g& ~, _$ g
6 C/ M0 E, W' ~ w2 M6 p2 [# b7 MI 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。)7 U, h3 k2 e' K
( |# ^# M+ P/ E) S
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) ) [ R6 T* Z3 X* Q; Q5 J, _5 ?( ]# h( j8 n+ W, J" _ N% A% h
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!) . Q! h) \) r: |% ]' \! [6 d: I& x. [9 ?, Z4 I) h
The 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)4 d; H8 a* p! m0 J. D1 b- e. c
$ z9 t9 y- K- ]* n& q7 I6 I" I
We 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。)# v; @- d+ W A' p8 k$ t
* k' X8 W6 ~' Z: y) u1 Y7 _
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?) : W6 X0 b# H) |, w( ?3 F9 Y+ w7 \ l& `3 F3 y6 C1 L
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! * y% F0 z, ^* m: I# T! f( l1 ^) G% c 8 o6 \: @* v: ] 0 a* y) R. ]" A8 w( S( `+ p2. 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。 ' k) d: ~" z# i/ A: q2 ~7 ~' F3 \2 K6 ?* T' }% j
例如:$ o6 L, e, V% U8 W
! L+ k H* |) K1 x& ~3 NAt 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) " L# ~8 O, S8 j/ X) E2 C' i) S! @4 U2 B( y9 n) E2 n+ B
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)* K6 J' L. S* \2 E
- d$ O9 d- c @8 q. _6 }5 ]# X
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) $ M* z8 W. D$ K) E) t u% n- w& k$ K% R, A- g& nHe 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) ! |, q# k" u2 O( A 9 P9 p2 i0 c* F1 G5 }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), C, z2 }1 o2 S& G5 a3 f- S8 d1 H. J1 n
9 b- X5 n C) b# R$ e
She 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) # n2 g' F6 n+ n; V. \! T$ x9 N7 f$ k1 ]& ~! S' [5 D' F) ?- }
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)4 J; g, A5 E/ h2 j) g
0 r5 D4 J% D) W% }. S/ l( U: T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: " A: M( f7 m8 m( \. u% t" n8 G - K" d. E( D# t/ @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。)/ P1 d; q4 p9 @5 D2 B+ C2 `
Y2 N; A! Z+ N7 T5 N
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.) " g5 [5 e/ a; R' r) y' p4 C7 s % p. B! m$ J7 o1 T$ C, |+ OHe 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。) # M; G+ w. r: S3 l. m, Q6 r: X2 v& l# p$ D7 K+ u
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)3 O4 c6 C2 u; o9 e
9 Y+ @6 o: y8 d# q6 p' s! Q
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) , d# v2 h* q7 ?0 F: [6 S( _, `& V8 \' o" t+ i9 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)7 a+ }2 K( z& ~, Z4 u) e7 G
! @' [+ R& Z6 V Y2 A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.)6 \. ]2 n! }- x5 [ M
( |5 H, n3 }6 u1 T此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 0 ~9 \$ c: l, M+ A ! X% `& X- \! w {1 M# ^/ c 1 \9 l+ M8 i5 m2 S3.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」。8 H7 ]! \$ c* P* }
* H# i) r; H' U; Z! @例如:* X6 n4 e! S2 ~8 w0 w& \7 I5 O$ U
; _# _6 z% C: U, Z2 y$ d
Mankind 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)0 I3 L' T5 D+ R2 H" g9 y
/ I6 [0 Z7 c! `8 X/ ~5 q
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)* o& V/ {. s0 g7 ?( V8 p; u& b, o/ p
& m$ |4 N, q( U6 _: J7 E2 I& h6 cThis 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) - g6 T M* P+ `! z6 @ 2 N6 l) c `, R: o8 D" ]He (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。); D- v. c$ t7 E1 e$ h& _- H9 E
- I' E$ X2 _& F0 C9 F2 b
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。)/ n R- ?3 |( T: X! ?- J$ J: ]4 s
3 h+ h% @4 {7 Y: {" |0 r) U5 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) & ?8 ~+ E9 Z3 D - s3 q$ j% P, e$ W5 @% TCongressmen (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) : g' ~' b- @3 _9 K, g& J3 W8 S" C9 g( t3 y. e3 H7 v y0 {' U$ ]
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。) 7 i4 P% M& ~7 R& n - p: `9 r) k3 [2 H" c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。 " c& R7 c; \ S4 e; Y. t# r" g5 r5 L. {) u
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:) F* l! Y L4 v6 z% Z
. t7 c, h2 O" ]4 y
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;% E/ R8 ]9 t" h2 y3 Q! Q
1 {1 W" E$ n5 w! ~" V0 f1 z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; 7 P: s) {+ H# h; c. B7 O0 { : c: A1 }) W, K) {9 X# e对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ! P1 f1 z' x9 q9 z& t% c5 V , ^2 ?! V8 _3 g1 `! }) a对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; * Q" e" o q) X+ Y# U6 S+ T8 _3 |- r J1 L: r
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: 7 u1 D( ~ M$ {& d+ X. C8 C4 l' p2 k5 `# f, J9 V
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)。 3 `4 D3 F) P, x4 l" D3 Z- a, |5 X9 `
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)。 . G0 w- b7 \3 Z3 A