本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 . f4 Y# h5 T1 }+ i' ]! ?8 Z2 a$ q. K% I) ^- ], t: Q6 t 转帖, ?$ b) ^3 D5 M" H) g* o
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): G' ^' Y5 t1 W" H+ S
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& t" o b& O! r1 I# a6 [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)) j& b0 X8 g/ j) ^
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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。); e; r1 e" q1 b) j
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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) + O$ x6 Y) T% T0 e: l- I4 g' p' N$ A0 v! b ]
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?)9 N# V6 C A' s6 }6 _) D
2 b" X: [; w( P$ K* F. y9 nI 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 ]; ]$ m3 L9 }' U8 Y! e( h) `
* G# I9 h t( F2 \& W v1 ^+ DMr. 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)' Z0 @0 i: m$ Y5 G/ Q- E# L' ~
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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!)9 @5 G4 R" E/ ~/ E% [6 E5 `2 L6 U
* a% J4 d1 M; `1 c+ aThe 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) , @( t2 y* t+ S: d+ a* B' J& n1 u, S# d- T
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。)# {# G1 G- j% _. J) e" s% {' B
, I) a) i* f9 A1 E/ wPlease 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?) $ M3 O' z% F: P5 d . E& D" H% }& ~+ q! Y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! " L1 I2 h9 p7 Z2 h9 j ! H5 B4 b: ]5 f ' |* h1 Y- O# t2 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。 5 F, P6 d1 R: h) w0 K% ~0 p! T2 Q/ \3 R! P4 |
例如: 0 }% P) v6 I, h% g: a 6 e1 S2 j- Z0 J, ]- z5 Y6 vAt 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) 2 i" N6 E$ A5 O1 p . t, n% {5 d$ E8 V! \9 ^& L# MDespite 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)) S) a, @: Z/ N; h* s! I
+ j) U& _/ l0 t/ X1 AI 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)& b& l) X9 s: W) N3 I, R
+ w* G, o, |+ kHe 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) / P- W O9 W$ D1 C3 B: l+ P: Y: S$ ~/ x
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)( Q# p0 ?. V# G1 {
7 {1 ~- p3 ^' f8 K% I. IShe 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) , V1 G9 }- a" h6 i2 U" q8 M/ w& |4 c + r/ `5 f. c, a! x3 H% D0 Y' rI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ' L( W* B' R! [2 `- O2 P$ k * G, h* w' {- b k- r* S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: * F# @) {% x. `+ v1 }, b5 U# Y) _# w$ |( o$ C
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。) 6 b; q8 L5 r& U/ _5 W2 h% t# H) C0 w+ T
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.) & C+ a+ M$ k9 J( J * h2 V8 Q$ ?6 T1 C! K" p- v4 yHe 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。)6 a# A) I1 K) ?6 H- ?& g0 C
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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) . v. k: c& O6 S0 n& |, N7 \ 2 d$ |! [; }, R, fWe 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) , u' x) [) J* x0 H, m% R, d + a! `, W4 x' i6 y4 O! l4 r; f I( LEnclosed (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) 6 S) H1 {9 N3 }1 k7 v( y& f" P: q, `$ I5 A+ G# P
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.). D* |- K& i# V/ w
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ! x& p5 F- Q. P+ Y: Y& S4 K O 5 t4 Y) m2 k% z9 `( d( N6 S ^- ]3 `/ W; W8 b, O 3.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」。 w7 y: v$ k' M# _. [8 a- H4 W l% ~+ y- J1 L9 \ a& e
例如: 8 ^) M0 d9 R$ \; N( r ! d F; }! t. BMankind 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) 4 J7 @0 F& ]* x ] w, v+ j* D5 D( p+ O9 e7 \4 z* \' }
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)8 D: x* E2 O* w
2 V2 H" Q/ W5 r ]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)( q& V: c ~0 \, e; x" j8 m
9 O* c+ b6 k: ~, r$ THe (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( A/ U6 L8 H3 C3 Q % R/ \2 \' @& A- zMany 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。) 8 b( q/ n% c; K( }/ j% O" c# {" ?" v) n( m
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)+ B( O: k' b8 J
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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) n) T4 P% L( m/ y% J% z- o+ ^3 Q9 ~
4 j: K4 Q& p6 l$ |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。)3 e: h! {* K7 Q+ f( v
" p v% d7 ^& A8 q/ F6 u" x/ w* m `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。4 }8 Z3 }6 D* H- K
6 ? T, _2 z+ ] a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 h5 B5 M0 K n2 y' A4 Q+ j/ ], O$ f( V# `
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;# R; O8 U& t: S# V, ?. U
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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;9 s5 W$ u7 s) S9 u
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ' ^3 ~$ y9 z( O+ @ * s( A3 F D% U. f! C+ f对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ; F: @- l- E% K! g, S y y! S7 c9 r" \6 U0 @) Z6 Z
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:/ @$ f3 M/ p' Z ~* T" z& d: J
8 _+ B+ ~0 q ~5 [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)。$ w }- y9 F0 w
5 g1 {2 ?8 b/ `1 W( l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)。 ( @1 S( J! N) l/ ]