本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 : F* D: D3 F- V8 D" j3 F0 i! g
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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)0 S: y/ q, H: W7 e: a
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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) ; P3 T5 G/ P6 w. E' o; q' W( ]. |1 c; Q& U2 E, G5 @
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。) ; F+ z/ Y5 ?; n, s; u7 j5 `8 k( l% j$ j! l+ h6 L
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) o2 ~" \5 p( ?( w) \
1 |2 ]% o/ }- }' {1 @# D+ FThe 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?)% G* c5 S' Z5 H `4 Z9 E
9 G. G1 k" s' q0 @0 J6 c2 p5 ZI 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。)( [, y/ H# ]/ Z) v- ?
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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) # e% x; e8 d8 [! H0 p. m3 v 3 ^' f( I( d! nWe 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!), f* X F! t1 D! S; Q7 b- m* ~
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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) - a* L1 J; k2 B1 h. c d% ^ # C# h0 w0 l5 S0 ?& TWe 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。) - G& O/ {5 v' E" ^' I) L 1 ] g U" n' @0 i/ d) CPlease 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?)! J" I2 N/ f/ \, u
/ O6 N ^5 }- V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!) U: F# P `) u3 M
$ T* E( u+ S$ q* IAt 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)% Z5 x4 k2 ^: r- e9 \+ Q3 Z
+ L5 `: T$ z# i" J; {* H8 HDespite 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 n3 C$ V5 d- U9 M: i& G
/ }. n/ S% |( d/ i; X' YI 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)& E1 m( M; Z# i- Z
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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) 2 g0 q2 C9 K6 w# b2 `# h1 b # a+ Q D. D9 R8 A* V) `5 kIn 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)2 w# p7 H" E8 F# B C
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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)& I* @+ }# a7 w3 Y
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) / z# H3 T% a* I: u2 a7 A $ [1 J1 G4 `( x' `* O& O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: ! _8 y6 F. Q( _7 `! E. b8 | , s. p I4 s: Q8 o4 h# D8 | |( K$ ^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。)) l! R! e8 L' v* t) D
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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.)1 }& G7 B( m* N! s2 @: p" \; u
6 N( Y1 w! N* z' Q3 {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。) 0 ?& ~, E4 _9 {+ C+ d- d0 ~' b0 W, {2 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)2 ~ u7 E* x, K9 [4 D
2 r7 F( S! |& @$ _" p# x( @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) 1 t4 S* Y7 s5 S& F P ; P8 v8 Z0 m+ S& UEnclosed (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) % x3 Q1 m! f! ` G1 ^% @; J- H, ^ + I6 s" M- G" v1 x* 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.): W1 [7 s5 o6 `
( D$ o6 m4 E: o" @( N6 E& j此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" }3 p c9 q) S9 T8 Y6 ?2 v: c
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6 `1 w5 J W! b) [! f5 e9 E 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」。$ e! B1 Y/ h) b' O s8 r
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" s9 X% ~' N+ A# 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)9 c1 \, P$ l/ d* i; J- |- c
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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)+ ^6 n3 c" S: ^! Z3 V( s
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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) 8 b7 y+ B4 R3 {! Y2 T* @8 g3 q 1 }5 U8 t/ f9 N7 @8 rHe (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。)) V. _. h& q+ e. f0 Q$ e1 r. x
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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。)0 _, m# z) p' j! c" R& ]. ~3 l
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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) ! Q7 ?# g8 \! G 9 Y) A. S! q- `9 u5 OCongressmen (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)% G5 }4 y7 t; f9 ^: Q
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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。)2 ^$ t6 @, [; s2 B7 {: e