本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 $ B: _9 M, x: R- W5 ^6 I( q2 d) G - O. Q, i) }' k. `$ o转帖8 B1 ?. ^) l' l& v Q
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), K, r* v1 E( ~3 ?" d6 x- p
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例如:6 W3 k# S7 A; H0 `* @' @
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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)& \5 i# A) }" I2 ?
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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。) ) G5 z! a$ c; |5 e 9 @1 H' i7 R3 ?3 YThis 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) " N# Z% U) d: `' C) T % T6 E) O& W5 y, K+ r7 e* X2 tThe 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?) ( L$ R/ s" B$ W0 p( G7 ^5 m* Q g% f) G! K' ^9 e9 y& G7 r8 t
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。) ( J' T: f% ]. y A+ y) Y( s1 l& d! q
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) 3 T4 w9 c4 ? m $ ~4 ] u. [9 S. R- Y8 @# {& X& o) VWe 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!) 5 @% a$ S6 w' a( C ) @+ y1 B2 G, u. U6 C( _9 l4 _* K' xThe 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) + M2 g3 a# h. g3 N- w" Y( o' W1 q& l% X" W 2 ~; T$ g9 r) Q! \$ Z7 j! }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。) 7 t" q& a5 ~3 u/ P3 [2 b* p7 X1 f) m $ n \: J( D: O4 w, QPlease 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?) * D1 B& d8 L. @& P2 u! N2 Q ! `- B* I* J2 H" h- c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! ' a, E4 _2 M: Y0 M! ?8 v $ }! H3 G6 d1 d # `7 p9 [' v# C8 e7 V2 t2. 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。 3 T" R8 x+ t# l; Z E; Q* `$ B u1 ? ' h5 q8 ?( `: o1 H2 W例如: Q4 Y$ ~* K# l# k* {5 t; z8 f3 a
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): @5 ^- m1 A4 ^5 z) d9 @. u
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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)/ C6 O5 f9 w; v
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I 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& z2 Y0 R9 }7 c- d9 F4 w1 T- F) d' M$ _
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). L: ?. w" F% Z3 W- ]+ S7 W
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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)! l( M( `* S2 k
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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) / W9 P; E y6 H" m% V0 H) J0 b: Y, E5 v$ t; Z( X
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)6 m, w+ G3 q. q5 \' U
8 l+ w' {) R c o7 _% I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& g) e0 j4 o" Q+ b- @. l! \/ c b2 q; G9 A8 r
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。) * N0 D6 O7 g+ `2 I4 {$ K$ ?' `& }* Y) e
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.)7 v+ |8 n5 Z# i2 z5 O7 t
3 o: {4 d+ ~ E/ p- x, O+ ]4 A5 VHe 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。)% @" Z, Q& k$ H8 c l3 }
5 c* H% ]% W& I* |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) " X2 J0 _- Z+ x 6 _) c" K1 k. z3 R3 [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) , g! p- N5 [ d# x9 | ! l2 c; f& {8 o; O6 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) & M C( j6 u2 Q' i, Q0 v5 q: T3 N- _* E
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 l4 v/ f7 P) |% n' u
" X& H+ e5 O( {! N! u此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。9 _1 O7 W9 h$ G" p7 b9 G; \
" w) @0 D+ g4 u. K2 I1 q* A5 B, P- P7 k4 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」。8 F) U9 O, W/ Z
9 {8 v5 U8 `. a+ i例如:, | D' c; |' J: n1 D' G& e9 R
( |* ^' a; \0 ?1 J; pMankind 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) ( U3 i: B4 n( c' x0 n - f: X3 v0 L) L- v' H1 L5 yManpower 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) " }+ B: N/ F' |6 _# O 1 K* v& V5 v7 c) h& QThis 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)! O3 Z, [" l6 s! \+ m! ?
1 Q6 H$ ?% x+ S' |5 W! k* uHe (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。) 1 w' j% R2 O1 @5 A0 N; |7 | . v' j5 A' |, {) ~5 _4 QMany 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。); \+ P% V/ D9 G$ M6 p6 V$ }4 J
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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) : `9 Y, {7 m: r- S- c ; i7 w5 L, f X. G. P( B7 F5 ECongressmen (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) 6 H" |7 J4 U; y C! T+ _: _: M) A8 B( t3 w
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。) 6 a- y% r- n" r a ' H6 ?8 w$ c+ R' `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。6 }0 g4 T+ A5 V4 t: y, K1 t
|9 o1 D8 R) }. Y5 [9 n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 D) w2 A5 Y8 y7 n+ x1 Y. _8 J2 N. u: p
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; / w9 Y; L: q9 U0 O% S1 s: W# B7 }! s' H$ S' P' m
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; , ]6 p8 I, k4 t2 F: V6 G0 {4 A/ i+ `: ?4 l( b% f
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;% r2 F, y, m/ O- E% E, O6 t$ p
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;8 j* ] W% H+ f7 V, Q) K3 q2 L0 W
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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: 6 V, F" m$ J% w: [6 Y6 Q+ Q : m7 D* @& _& r' V1 }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)。 $ L/ ^# p9 @, K3 x* C$ U# U+ u0 m9 e# b+ D) l
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)。 + \% B0 y; I! j- K$ ~