本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 : b* g0 {1 h, D; d* v3 Z2 @& X! b
. Q% I* `( v5 x0 K% B- x转帖 # q5 C; v; {* E5 [* g3 _$ G2 ^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 W( @' y* O- w, C
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例如: ) ]) ]) K; D# l6 W3 a- u % g \% g* h; u0 U% C2 x; zMany 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)& _7 p5 G1 O& b+ y( ~, U/ Y
) e2 ^! y( W+ c2 v6 S! x) LThree 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。)" v+ A: h$ E9 T5 U. y Z) @4 V
+ e. c8 @9 E+ L8 bThis 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) # ]6 N' E4 h& o" \) Y- R, r4 W; Y b' e& j/ A1 s8 {& h- k
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?)7 I% p, g6 E3 E
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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。). g: h9 [; v9 |- L8 K4 F
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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)6 D" b+ }1 `: j: i
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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!) 1 @: z p1 l" v( J7 E2 ?! g. n( g ; p1 ]& b$ D9 L# lThe 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)& i# @5 s/ P, P) A: m' M+ e, s/ r
3 p8 ]8 r9 ~, ~3 X B1 N0 OWe 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。) ; P Q8 m K: m. B3 z6 [ 0 r7 O3 F! j2 y, g+ X) J/ o6 J% @1 jPlease 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?) + a/ J! ?( Y, l+ y. B$ F) Y1 U g $ P; V( v5 e3 c/ J4 |- B9 j8 R; [& @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!) `4 M7 q& B- O t5 ]7 c/ }% |
9 ]# s9 Z9 L' u/ Q" Y, ] 9 H8 H- s |/ i. R3 f0 _0 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。" Y( j6 d p! x2 b1 [
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例如: 2 j4 `- }9 w# n! ?) _ : V8 P! u' x3 [& `* eAt 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); G/ u; x" e( J# m3 h; j
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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)2 U8 ?& t- @$ W* I3 _6 ]
_# w. b4 j: Z: p! C' gI 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: y) ?, a* n r, L
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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) y- ]$ C- `* w# w, a8 w+ x5 [
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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)/ t, r! U& |; J# T* T
) N$ r& Z" S6 n9 e4 n* ]# 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); C* U4 Y+ J4 I' `
& F- z5 H# \% i- X, h- H# t' T+ OI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 0 ~3 c8 P& \) V5 K, ~; x 4 P9 g% R4 H9 S$ B, x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: : C$ i9 ~1 Q5 g" l% L 4 ?% E) ]6 x) O5 T L& D8 i5 BThe 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。)& _5 }8 v7 F p( m
8 q/ E8 ^/ V8 [( ]* I4 rThe 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.) , T/ t l, _% x- O1 e5 {6 H7 j4 |) r1 \
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。)% A0 O& e* K( L) y9 S
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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)& d' D) }$ }: R$ s( z# m2 b3 b
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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)) |+ d5 t2 \2 P; y0 q0 K7 S' Z
9 v! P/ L& l$ AEnclosed (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) 9 K# t. u7 R( R 3 ?) k0 [8 h9 m4 t9 \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.)4 L* T3 C% S! Y2 w8 X$ x
# L3 u0 m [! V0 d) W6 G此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 0 D+ z R! ~) R* O : t/ Y+ P) J% x4 y) ]; u. F$ w1 @. q4 R r 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」。 7 ^' a H6 s j. F R8 |/ F- E: U" h% \4 T0 j# c% s8 R
例如: + |% h# t1 A+ z1 D; j ' O% _$ v+ I: S' cMankind 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) 7 S8 A( B/ `! \" d u) W8 {) g# Q5 \% M2 R. J1 I4 |
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)# e* L, F/ G6 }% G! i8 F( v9 H, H
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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)* r. u `' B- V4 h' @& R1 C
8 U: M! e; U: h. s5 K' 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。)9 A. o! @& r/ Y3 \
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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。) 8 }7 `% l6 N7 k6 y $ o) q, D# q2 ~' c/ w3 FPolicemen (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); x. q+ f1 B" X5 b3 i
( N: p/ N) B0 Z* yCongressmen (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)2 X- Y& i3 A0 _, N
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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。)) ^- @0 E/ F8 U4 d% g
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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。: G+ i0 C" g: w# m2 j! t
. e& e a2 P+ ?% a6 O$ p- Q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:2 ]* g/ j$ }3 G8 C6 H B2 s