本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 5 d; m- n0 _0 H5 T# S$ x
* h; D( C. N9 p( H) u, E3 i3 g 转帖 9 X1 r- g4 {0 N m1. 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) 4 F4 T! z* |+ M1 i ; }% M7 W w: B7 i: F3 E例如:4 A0 O; y( C6 z. x+ S# x5 n& U4 h5 n
' z( U9 k/ |# CMany 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) 4 R, L l: P z! T6 t* R2 n3 f. B: Y: W7 a2 {. H. k7 _
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。)! S2 @6 D5 J, b, C: u
3 E& `/ k' h2 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)3 m- y( t7 j( L
" R. Q: Y2 j. d8 r5 lThe 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?) . C: z" `* o9 s# Q U; V2 d, v2 K/ m7 g2 R- q
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。)# Y& G9 W6 y: l5 Y: p& A; t
8 H2 Z: p3 X: ^3 U5 P/ E: 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)& V& g5 H& Y$ q+ I5 R& {5 A
0 \9 n( F [9 K; O+ ^# {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!) ! \/ k% Y+ F9 w8 O6 S( G8 |( I 9 d/ W; o2 y2 m/ L2 BThe 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)$ z2 g5 O) R% m$ k; z
$ I0 t6 a) J) `+ I
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。) + F6 F: A8 h; N4 O1 w/ {6 T; D t0 X! W4 _, c- w
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?) 1 F7 Y7 v0 v& d. L, [4 h " M7 z3 X! ^2 R! l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! . t3 [6 d. @, S2 ?7 {8 a! B L4 |( R& c' s1 F
6 G8 t- H0 A1 @) _ 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。 # z! b3 E$ A3 d6 f0 ^2 }5 _3 X: q
例如:/ _8 }8 I/ k% {1 Q1 l
' {- P# r4 _; e/ z* qAt 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) # I6 v! K$ n# i+ M: F : t& \- K$ o+ b; p# Q1 w- ADespite 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)/ E5 k+ ~/ T2 C, Y% z; b7 ^$ h# N
% Y: a. o" Q3 T. U" h: Z
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) 9 v; Z+ u4 N. h/ f o8 \ ! X; ~3 q2 y* [& \3 T& Z6 P/ W) A6 _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)* | ^: W7 r1 B4 Y2 q7 Z
r( i" p. g4 z" s6 A' p! j
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) 6 }, ?% H0 E w( X% ~1 s7 m0 q$ w" h$ O9 U0 K7 e- }" x9 e
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) 5 v0 a o( G l5 j5 e" Z9 D. O9 j 8 }$ Q4 s! `0 l, ^- H! P- CI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 7 S9 w% _: x) V8 b/ I9 r& [2 w- i0 c0 o2 `% @9 B( W" 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: - U: a/ ^( B& d+ C* G ' X" d' Q; P* `5 p& n7 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。) - i5 J7 Z* w/ i# M4 O) z, ~- [, c* O" h4 E) h- F
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.) + F8 X) B5 N' @3 S% L" w9 J6 ^. N3 Y" z4 O0 w
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。) 6 t" `0 p; u, H1 e4 |; I* a1 n/ w
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) " }: @6 ]* p r1 J Q' c( P ~$ V% k1 \! a7 s2 \4 AWe 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)6 F: w0 w+ Z/ T+ W" h7 y
2 _7 u& W. a; N' i
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). ^$ D1 |' B) q& A+ a- h0 W* b
! s. m! r& p& E1 s7 ]4 ?0 O
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.)! F1 y3 P2 c; k% o. G* }0 F3 o7 _8 I
" N, n! H3 @; e n4 {# l此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 4 j8 y& K' {' i: J% A/ h$ L, f9 p5 g8 h* r
8 K- T& P, R0 ^0 S3.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」。% V2 v0 _3 p6 B; @: a
4 e M. I( Y; w3 M+ ?, c
例如: 5 m' E* |+ v* V0 J& J7 |7 p3 ~% K2 h$ G& G0 a
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)4 B9 U8 D+ q% ?# |! E( c6 L8 v' d
. q) j, L& M: \0 O9 m& Q! Q
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)* O# Z1 X7 U# p8 F" z
, Z7 M9 `8 d" j. V9 ~- H; w$ X
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): s: ?" X$ W2 C/ V" m
- R- \ g" P( x5 @1 A0 O% d" ?
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。) & J# q+ r9 L6 A! i9 O # X6 `1 F2 z, f9 ]7 y' TMany 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。) * L7 ^+ U: w. q" ]7 }5 t6 r- K % R4 u3 Z b2 G6 B$ K2 YPolicemen (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) + [3 }3 n' ]) F4 Q/ b, s% @6 k, `8 F, Z
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)& I# a: T/ U' i7 ?6 h0 Y
0 z6 }1 v+ a( y9 A4 F g1 E+ BStewardesses 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。)% Z# }9 I+ r' c* V% D) w
: k& K% t" J/ \( N8 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。/ Z' f1 Q! a, y- N- L
* V" L& l8 `6 S$ V! s& G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: * P3 c* G; L! j, \8 J7 X % {3 y7 l6 U! g* t. X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; ) R4 N+ D3 t H& r' Q9 r+ P) l4 e4 W8 C; N9 I# j1 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;' a7 n% S$ g0 n' s6 s
; D t+ P: {- j+ h# 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)。$ A u m7 p Y& p4 w2 D" d