本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 % I8 }% i$ |- L3 |9 _ a/ C3 o; @- F. b" o. N# J8 r 转帖' s, h6 l% k1 Q0 S1 L
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) E( t3 _2 B% ^' c) D# I, [2 c$ W% E8 ]
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5 z9 ]7 {4 N1 j& z, Z" I* GMany 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)2 r! G5 M' G/ u+ y
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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。) - [- i- v4 ~5 G! L- J / C6 f+ N5 f5 c6 ^; h4 PThis 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) $ J+ }- f% A" x& X2 T / M+ d# x1 O# W3 _4 D' f! m. k3 ^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?) R" h4 @* `; q5 M: l & J# a, Y: o' a) P$ P2 |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。) 2 d6 K8 Q: K" `5 R / R4 S. |4 G% v9 s* XMr. 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) % L2 _: S* c0 m. q+ w' N4 c) i8 t
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!) $ U+ d9 q6 `' m; \8 E# G- e% L6 s7 F4 d5 z' @0 ^6 E
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)* f& ]) z/ q$ H* a3 A
8 c$ q. X1 L" LWe 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。) ) S: `5 A, x% z" v% N # u# l; J; {5 O+ b- O7 c- V+ G' fPlease 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?)! ?; D0 p, _1 m" h o, P* V; z
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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! ( v, j: i2 z n! { ^, B) R$ W. B/ v) F1 m5 ?. m
! x( V, e$ S7 K( ]2 c 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。1 o; N/ ]! d1 @6 ?
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At 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) ' f/ m* u" Q5 T ! S! I4 ^- @5 f QDespite 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) % t8 v+ |+ Q7 ]8 [; D# h% [ 9 t' Q- b' A' ZI 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)& ~% t/ r j- G7 g5 h' ^+ p5 H- s
% X& ]! J0 N/ l$ i FHe 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) ! O9 U* {# X$ @6 Z/ K8 [5 M3 ?, l# t
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)& }$ }0 j6 j' |8 z; s
( R, m. y. _( e; C6 AShe 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) 7 E4 g1 s$ G! }$ m 0 H8 N, O# }" K+ e+ AI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)3 r' U! h9 a- \, ~( Z1 X9 g6 j
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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: x- j+ o# E7 y2 i4 r ) P- E8 `$ N) w- S' U j2 VThe 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。): D( r) T) \- ?, H4 ?
0 W. v- X% W% i$ X7 r& X% P% AThe 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.)! S& P+ h- I/ F- q/ i: S! ^' V, d
: W1 s+ L Y4 j7 PHe 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。) ; g+ H; B: h- b+ j' ~ 3 E/ Q/ |, ?- H4 jHe 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) $ L1 _3 }7 J0 ?% A& n' y2 }0 F6 L) @4 ~
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) 0 b& n) x% b. E& K! }0 g' d% T 8 f1 @+ V4 x$ y5 U+ f: eEnclosed (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) - Q* X2 a1 O, v, J2 y4 c" q 7 V- v% x8 X/ L3 |/ ^( K, 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.)9 ]) Q- _' C4 j: o
7 p4 s' m5 [" ?: s此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 7 b0 x: z8 Z8 B# |1 [; ^, L9 _, @% z% U# K9 w
& G/ z; z- {2 _4 X8 J3.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」。 3 r$ P* F% w3 h/ \& ] N6 M7 d+ B9 `9 ^0 C# M$ T& |) W
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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)# g) A( }: W# f0 G3 L2 N
6 ~/ g0 v* x6 o2 EManpower 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 p; c8 A1 {3 B1 b9 K: Z/ \
M+ k" u& }; y/ s8 P& j0 b% |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) 2 j" r3 W5 Q4 p2 h: x# h: l d4 }& M" N" R/ u' p/ v
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。) ' Z; c. t. F* R u7 i' R# M7 Z. Y! M- F4 G/ U8 C6 f
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 t8 g. t" t' @) z& ?6 v+ b# w) P: D
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)8 P; \1 Q/ ^! w2 D* m# L( h
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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)5 k2 M% \5 {7 D4 L
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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 N3 P, r1 _: W, y+ I4 r " [% k0 U. o7 [2 F! Z' b; d* _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。8 s# |8 E7 l& w& @( r
$ b- A' J- M7 F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:/ P/ Y8 O& A7 c$ H: x1 \
7 W" ]- v" K5 r* w: V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;$ _- p+ d1 G _. T# l6 U
; p i+ G/ }6 I* f! C9 a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;7 `* ~% R2 C' L
! k" d* i( x; B, e对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;. F6 A) E; M: i2 m1 i, g" c