本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 6 a4 F4 z% H n * c- K) X- W4 Y, W' u$ i. Z转帖 7 E! |( g3 M, b9 O) C9 o1. 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) ( P. o0 r% e" m, Q1 y7 ~% f; M) j/ ?' Q. v. {5 v/ S1 X
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: o: P8 o; C: L9 EMany 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) ! o* u/ k: p, _# a, _! L* m 9 ?+ i! f$ m ~$ }9 uThree 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。) % ]7 I5 W3 u4 j3 H" e B6 h3 A, f 1 {4 Q G' z) E/ UThis 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) 7 S" R: t% k4 [$ b& G! S# U+ F- G; n0 x8 y0 {
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?) ! }+ h5 A! p: Y 5 u |0 v# h+ ]8 G* J6 bI 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。) 8 I! l* D6 A& K6 `# E$ k & \. `0 c2 @1 bMr. 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)" U2 v7 m2 ~7 {0 s6 e
" ~0 F; @) k! Q* z$ n( t9 }6 C1 HWe 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!)% ?, D) p3 v8 f+ d& y. s; A
6 J1 T! A; x) `9 [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 U1 \2 R& ?( B4 t D& m6 @4 {9 N
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。)) q% u: D/ l+ @- ~/ T% S
; W. i' R3 k2 e, j; LPlease 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?) ! V# Z* t8 X3 W- \! t4 e7 t 8 J& o/ {* H+ C1 F' o2 b0 U! 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! ; r' S# W0 H! Z+ q( X& u, g. ^7 N' B: ]# `
, T) v* A" ~' I5 l% Z( d 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。 9 ?$ l6 g; d. a2 d 9 b3 X. G! o* K8 V例如:; l) y: R8 w0 I7 Q+ c2 W: l# t
}4 p( e9 P. I3 x5 _+ _; PAt 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) $ I! u# f1 `5 k4 i! b3 s u ! g3 ]+ |7 o5 tDespite 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) $ y8 B6 I2 {( c6 q. A + L. c4 L$ s; E1 w9 Q8 VI 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)/ Y' w' ?' M7 f, @9 h8 K. O
' ?' o- p* U% |' _- l& DHe 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): C A, J# m/ [; l7 I
. c' z& h. a5 V/ [: d$ UIn 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)- ~1 p) Y! f7 F1 ?
3 H Z2 z+ j" e4 X0 q! @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) 2 j* G- q! {- T# K) s4 M& E9 b+ @, E7 r+ ]2 h# m
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)0 ?" e5 x& [$ }4 u5 Q2 S
2 v; L2 P9 ?. m% M; J9 y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: x6 Z/ a3 L5 W+ M* ]) ]( @8 f- g/ o& l% B* a5 }
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。)+ C! k+ X% q6 V/ I
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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.)6 _. n* Q! t' Q1 T
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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。)& e+ {. \. V0 t- n
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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)* F. n( y* J, I; C2 U
t, F0 k4 F. d4 e ?/ C& T8 ^$ ZWe 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) ; b6 V V5 s! q; Z# C" z$ m & P& b$ m! Q/ g' |6 y/ O. u4 [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)$ H. i8 C- L/ @( s& o
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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.) b% y; Q' b1 q6 `! f
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 C1 O9 p/ r- X/ w) e' N, A% h3 w4 F6 u7 ]. y
2 j3 l6 a6 b; E例如: 9 g0 @( \% ?$ G2 _& g4 u ; F( A1 m, X7 ^9 O) z# j& j8 uMankind 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) 8 Y7 I4 X7 G: z/ O7 k* z 9 v, q& A* s2 l" R+ _3 M# c- N1 \) gManpower 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)2 U6 q+ q3 g o" ]% I. G& i
9 a a2 {- |! d) UThis 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)% E$ D; q1 M: a j
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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。) 4 z7 [ G u$ \' L + A$ Y1 G( z/ X6 W0 t( V EMany 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。)2 P! Z; K! m- Z& M0 Z8 X" E
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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)" ?5 b" |* K3 r0 W6 V+ s% p) i2 B
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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)/ D J; T! C' J% N2 L, G! W: g
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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。) % N0 V4 {! I, z5 d/ h$ }# Z/ h j6 V* q. m3 s2 z3 q f0 i
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& D" E- a" v8 p6 w J6 l3 R
8 Q, b0 V( N% S( G- i, p8 ]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! m# l5 R- G. u* o 3 o* V6 x+ D% C8 \, H! S2 m2 N2 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; ; q9 K. d! `5 b e# Q+ S' @% r% d9 _- v- ?
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; 4 A5 O$ f! d: f* q; P 2 d/ k ^" P5 X. K( j* E6 V7 Q9 W- B对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;: Q* Z1 h# Y+ J. `# E
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ! q- p2 u( l3 |2 X* O ) A$ r& a$ _/ {4 X( H' H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 h) p$ w! o3 _) |* Y+ P
5 I' v& H2 c" N1 h N' E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)。 4 x( T d( l( j$ G- w) J: F- `& I' q* j. s* e7 S0 z9 W( A4 G4 R
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)。" w( c% `' I7 {* P1 T Q" v