本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 2 [1 y0 f, q9 M, L$ n. [! A' {
V! b8 o% I; o. d% g9 P 转帖3 q: }4 N0 a, _' `( O4 n# M) R5 i
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)& ^& ~/ u; t9 Z7 `6 p
% c0 u! O8 {6 f, B7 x V3 `
例如:" n" Y' h; p0 ]; V% K# D
& _. ?; y6 [# w( lMany 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) $ w3 J5 @0 d+ V3 f4 M$ s, x- R7 S- ]; E& m
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。) # d3 E: I2 o& S3 t1 @& R ! r' z: \- B6 n% g0 g; S% B8 vThis 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) 0 q" R- `0 I7 X( Z 7 B* e g" B1 c: E; EThe 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?) & `) B. K2 r. K ( X* c4 ?" R& ?I 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。) * d# C% D8 x! h- Z9 Q. _" f# v$ ?+ d
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)5 Z, D# l+ e: A% f
' h7 y! D6 B& q, c7 S
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!) 8 f) o+ l& @/ H4 t- Y/ S ( Y* ]& b$ `4 t) sThe 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) 7 t% A8 V$ D' k# P) l 5 V* }% Q7 P4 I% kWe 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。) ) l: u+ B. ~( M5 G5 V3 V: S& V- d
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?) / x$ i/ E: b: l% @ , D" h Q9 H+ \: k. f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!) ?1 `+ N5 Z1 P9 m+ g& C
2 U6 c7 `5 \) k# I: i* U
' M( T. y* ~; m, b( d2. 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。( H$ G9 j6 s4 D/ U
3 W$ d1 G# R4 h+ v0 Y例如: 2 I( l$ P5 n0 O8 F % A: K% x; F. @% t7 J# mAt 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)( J5 d. U, \1 \& m! g
' w, a* j$ E) I
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), ]7 _0 I# u1 B* a- d1 y
1 P/ b6 d; P& P; |4 m# t
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) , l. ^2 E |2 X0 u% X ) S; f) Y' ?# O, E$ P/ Z1 |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); q" `6 |3 `5 @/ ^2 s
$ C+ P/ j2 ?' B J- a3 ~9 {1 qIn 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)% B7 {2 r& ^; E7 c% {
/ ]* R: _$ L7 |! P5 f6 gShe 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) ! [, T0 y9 [, o1 R/ i ' A( O a) p6 ~) @) lI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)9 d/ j& g4 X8 h1 V; m
5 o7 {: d: w+ i! y* j8 r. \- \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:- D2 T+ X# h& m! ]0 Q
- l1 k' ?: b) W5 s# f
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 ~! `4 s* e3 Z" A" H' C7 C o
9 A. b8 T1 O! X: A; ^% TThe 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.)5 b b2 m" i* d* v/ ?
# p7 U U3 `8 c1 g- JHe 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。), _8 P6 E/ z5 _% m) a; D5 x) D
* i# q5 w- X) L r7 y: `
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)5 m% y) E" ]: t
( a, k4 k5 r8 j, C- |
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)/ C' y2 p# X. m
) Z- |4 K# @% l0 YEnclosed (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)3 l: I/ _. ^* _4 g4 c" i
8 e" K/ J4 f$ Y+ J! [9 E; D% ]& {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 \6 R; _9 j+ d" A 6 G$ ~: I% `3 h此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 5 ?# x5 X) o0 L: d! M' f- ^8 o) J: E T. `4 `5 c/ k R! T. v
~5 ^, Y9 H0 G& \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」。$ b4 I- G# B& U% Z' Z, }
" ?5 }, J2 H& P" |/ d$ [
例如: ; d _, u+ ^3 @: o; R- K* f& X, O7 K n0 W
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); ^, m# g$ ^" n
! j$ n- o/ @' z- U0 S3 r1 T, T
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)+ B ?9 K( C4 I/ s# Z* s
# }9 G* W- R0 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) $ A& D" F/ u' E3 D* f1 K: E% l1 G1 K- S6 W1 P# Y" Y
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。) & l z4 N5 ?! ]- @ / K @5 }, ?; XMany 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。) 9 z; y+ M4 F6 |& \4 l$ Q2 l8 ?, K( n* J( x, B1 l" W8 p& p
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)# d. L: S2 a4 J3 }: ?& y# i
( R8 {& |" o( |8 q; t7 u
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)( y2 \( p. f4 a9 @2 G9 s9 S$ o
) T& G+ X* k9 H# c7 v' Y! 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。)" b8 H( ]2 ~$ j* P' u
3 E3 K: x* @3 L3 f$ }2 q
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。 + r# F5 [6 U3 }7 b$ } % s% e/ S, g3 I! P6 {. s0 Z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:, V& L$ U+ X C/ T5 `9 U
( x1 R1 L7 k. F0 ~% h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;; R8 D& `7 g- k- |/ E
2 s" X8 h, e, O& _* F& P' O
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; 8 K+ m# m3 l% n$ X9 { 1 s$ o" C) q% L对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;7 o9 P" ~9 U5 Q& j4 q" d
- o; A! }+ p& W. g+ l1 m3 x) A对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 1 x8 S; s6 o, H0 |( K9 s3 a2 w0 S' n3 H& m; P! B" E5 S2 p
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:6 p) ^4 l' e4 n5 y/ {" C, @) X! n: ^
$ |9 o: b8 F: I6 J- Y: U
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)。 0 Q9 P L0 j$ b9 w: J* i: }1 g) {! J4 ^/ ~' 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)。/ f& s4 a. `+ f0 Y: @; P; {