本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 + x- i+ [ E+ ?; T" } ; Q7 ?7 g2 ?9 \& M. g/ _转帖# Q% z' O: Q* u. T
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)* _7 S/ E6 H: A" c! C
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; e) r: l+ V( N$ f) ^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) 9 z) D# r" x0 G3 X2 s; g# j; h* g% t4 G$ D) v' k+ \0 ]7 D: e7 l( _
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。) 3 m: b$ i& y q M% {0 S1 i% m: Q2 g( J0 }
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)0 l( w6 T1 K2 v" J
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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?) 3 i! |" g0 _& N4 U8 ~, ]6 ]4 Z- F. W8 ?
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。). R: b R; u6 |
# m1 u+ i" f) |! E" F& K3 j. hMr. 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) ' d5 P6 \: E5 E0 `* r& R ( U: w1 r$ _! F/ h; R6 aWe 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!) + h& A/ {7 S( n3 q# f, ~ 4 L T. J- S4 b4 r4 W0 @" `' ZThe 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, v" S& o- I/ | 6 N [5 ]8 P. ^+ E$ C) F% j3 l* rWe 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。)6 w2 C9 Q" Z4 w4 i" Y s
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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?) ) {5 z0 ?$ c/ L4 Q# H+ n9 |# k * E$ x* ^4 i( ]1 m# X, j2 @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! & k8 U; ^( a ]9 |$ |6 r4 E# d- I$ k: n: P! x3 ]
) @# R0 O5 g I# t1 ^ 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。 + t; y$ t1 e* x0 Y: P ' X7 q- L& y) h. o* F1 Q例如: * \+ D4 ^4 W5 Z " L m5 l! p, ^! I, kAt 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) . z6 } p% e6 r `$ O0 q8 W/ e $ D# E* ^% W. Z3 {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). r4 D% i+ t k, p; A' }
, e+ \& I* m! {/ CI 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)& q3 x2 G/ ]" B
" o# Z. ]# V: @) t( 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) " G, s2 t( I4 y2 f: ]% B" I ( e8 {& J4 I; g# Y2 oIn 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) ; `( B9 N4 P9 `! \; ]' e5 c. n4 c7 r4 f
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)6 }! G# b5 a. k' n! e- @7 I, t
4 [+ v5 }8 R% P: qI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) # I- l" {& _2 g5 ~ 2 C2 p' Z( x: y' Q1 j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: ) O9 a& ?/ l$ A$ `7 s9 d% i6 n; q# K4 @) ]
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。) & w$ b8 @$ y5 Q! J3 h# f + {/ o' j; f8 T: m$ m f" iThe 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.) ! R7 D5 p' a" Q- H: `& W0 i7 y) B- i- ? f0 E; Z$ m: R" o% ?
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。) " m9 d& j7 H( D. k, v$ E% D9 z4 o# |- Y! Z
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); s5 ]# c+ g- o5 q/ e7 `/ I* [
p ~! M3 e( w! }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) ) {" l* E0 e/ X) _1 p( M( | J0 p8 |) |! ^" A" g) Q3 L
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) $ r5 F- s9 r) ]' ~3 n' u/ j1 I1 H; u @2 r: b9 F+ E7 Y
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.) 9 e7 j- S5 H8 f# Z* e9 Q- p* t6 Z7 J
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。& E5 W0 B/ r* y7 \2 ]
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' ?0 B- g( h$ N4 i4 F# k2 [5 A1 C例如: ( {* k3 e9 p. W6 [/ l' @ 6 R, z: Z3 t( G; tMankind 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. J2 S7 h: H7 J5 G$ B* q: N; U0 {7 X% `7 C
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)' Z5 o4 C6 ~ v. \, d4 s" T7 ?
- y+ s, e: x- B! n" }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) 6 c/ q9 H i8 ?4 n2 X2 [ * }0 a0 j, }7 I) U9 O: v% w5 LHe (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。)5 r- n, g, `! [$ \* Q
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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。)4 o: X+ }$ E [% y/ R
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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) # F# Z* \) s$ T$ y+ T2 D) H 8 L1 A p* p2 e6 R/ lCongressmen (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)* Y5 e. N# B$ }1 j3 z1 @$ d' V
5 @) {8 L5 q! b0 A, c ]$ u3 lStewardesses 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。) ( m" ]2 B; U* m4 o, u8 N5 _" i/ v M, s' n. ?3 L4 \
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。7 M! L6 C+ A0 R4 P+ C
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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: * y, Z+ N1 V. A, O. q& f 7 k1 I: K# R5 G w m( Q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;6 _1 m$ N" B, H: I3 _& b
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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;% Y# ^" ?; x0 {) d& e1 Z2 E/ o! A
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;7 o5 s5 z: n' H" C; `
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; s$ t x: q( f
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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: / W$ P6 G$ F' N I+ K, j % g( s) L( C/ @0 S8 V0 g) q4 |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)。 " M b1 N3 Y. @ 3 _- A* u! x/ Q' h% Y: _2 z4 t! 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)。 , r0 f6 v% ?+ N `