本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 2 W8 c2 Z1 ^5 x. ^* x- C& o# M" i- T: e, R: o( \3 V 转帖 + L4 Y. Z6 H! ^1 Y5 Y( H1. 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), h* S% c! V% G- P& a( U! M
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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)) Q3 H' Y8 k' c* B0 o8 n! Q
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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。)' D7 o3 Z6 m% G% A
4 \4 n" a' G3 z% W5 z, {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)- F9 V% a+ ? A
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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?)5 E% K' m# g6 W/ L" _6 G1 I8 ~
+ u1 T [& G) j9 v7 K1 p e& GI 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。) * ?; d1 D( \5 a3 S4 u* Z4 J; W 0 I# D- |& O5 @. hMr. 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) 0 U5 a. g- f4 n! p" ] ' b- k7 u+ a/ x/ L! N' n: K; P2 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!) ! Y! }; R3 k1 A3 d" b7 j# v% i: f! ?" l! m* s9 q' x# e0 [3 v
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) " J5 O- u8 q; _& W ) B K6 \! D% c9 gWe 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 V' x' x6 d {6 J, f, F, H# I6 X( q9 Z: B- o8 W) U- v: {9 A
Please 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?)$ l& _7 {' r5 L6 F/ ]
2 \. D7 [' ] b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! [/ A4 _% T* x+ b3 @& c * H J7 O V0 g: W" O2 d, C T: H+ | M 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。 - O/ ]2 ~7 n/ A4 n' [) N& Z' d) q& v# _. |% k# a" W
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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)1 _6 Y! i2 [: E5 q; h
, Q; q2 _4 C8 PDespite 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)( a% H9 B: j0 Z7 W/ ?( i
* b( U( P$ ^2 B2 {* XI 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) 3 f; V, d z$ K7 i ; l- ]2 s/ P6 U5 f; c9 Z4 y m0 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) ; m" t1 O' \, A6 p/ | * s2 x( Q8 |2 i. H" o- 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) 9 r: d* u1 ]5 |4 K4 ^% }2 y( L ' _0 U6 a) l* ^1 q4 U. R8 }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) : y# V) b4 D9 u( o 3 _2 h" g5 O4 SI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 8 F8 T' l2 [+ j1 i( U1 q1 [7 `3 l1 R. H; X) u9 v8 J
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/ f: G y* L1 Q i/ t: n: Q% Q, o! ? I 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。)1 m8 N6 A" {6 G. J# ?
: C! a* i% k: h, t' MThe 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.), W0 _2 w' d* J$ g) [. a
0 ~3 @6 h Z/ hHe 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。)& s1 u! K! ^4 y, g L0 b
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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) , O t* s' E' V& [' G/ f2 ]7 ^. ^! y. j; q4 K
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)$ c/ ?3 b3 R+ s7 I5 c* U! M
i- X8 R! _2 N" ^0 b& [7 cEnclosed (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)8 a% R1 Y! M) n- O/ h/ A
* r* J/ B! d! @& X# X! V5 Y' i: }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.) * A9 X: ?+ ~) R$ N" T2 W , q' ^ R8 V& u此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 1 H0 r/ A" V( K4 i' h b) v " r2 P3 u3 p) E % e# x& |7 N: y4 W6 a* ~0 m3 l3.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」。% w% E: s2 p# [8 f
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+ d: g. j. L8 C s ^4 ]! U- qMankind 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)% p/ I, M" t! q, j& R
" Y. H0 l \; r! m. V1 fManpower 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)5 F& B( w& w9 B0 s% Z
, n. I* L$ z8 i9 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): t$ u! `9 W3 m }! h
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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。) - p; u0 o& G9 P3 V9 F8 I 2 h" L2 ^8 z7 M/ U4 @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。) ! ]; F! v/ G- O7 ~" |0 y/ G+ R# ? j. G4 f/ R& B# v" h
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)( G4 v7 f1 u1 b# f3 T/ t
7 F# O; o- y6 e2 F0 B; D9 m' ICongressmen (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). y' Y4 H2 O, p2 p, N8 S1 g7 ~
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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。)5 A9 S% `1 ?0 v9 b
9 n9 i5 P( S+ @. b5 D" X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。5 P4 x; ^1 ?' A
3 y% T+ C# X7 e0 |: y7 y: ?8 ?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;/ r' T a O t* O, v) W! R1 j
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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;& P K2 g) M: g, p' U' H
, d0 Z. A8 H! K+ B& `对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;; B/ H( |! r P! @6 A
. L8 P$ _: E' y9 L, D- }对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 5 w' m; p$ R+ Y! X4 q" L( {7 U9 H+ `( F; @0 M
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:! T7 l& w' W1 g/ ], M
8 [5 a3 G. y, d" P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)。9 s. c# P4 D) M, F4 N# t E
( @# e7 U$ b4 @0 Z, S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)。# L; h- E$ i2 W3 `