本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 6 ?2 |. r, j% a* i* t 4 J7 k; x# E0 f" J2 P转帖 ) n6 i: z) V, p$ W" Q3 L$ O. L1. 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)" m1 M+ E& b) k$ m
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2 e# m- O( B$ |8 n( HMany 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 E i; Y! } r; x( V9 l6 L' p4 ?1 T+ V
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。)' d% R9 B# y6 z b' E& q; D+ {7 W
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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)5 E# X; v7 p# ?+ b
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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?)% i) z) u& r! q3 P. E% `- N
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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。)3 i, s& V$ w' P. N
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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) D. G' z# r R" J2 D
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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!) 3 X; T0 ~) r, J) _1 m/ M" ~- Q! m# u: ]8 x4 ]1 C5 }
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& T, y% i6 A& p" q% Z! M
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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。) " I4 f1 _8 u4 T% \. H+ F. W% E( t% L; `( j7 _0 m! }9 k+ j9 P. I( G
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?) / A- Z$ G6 \6 a) i) P) ` {; f: z( T' Y% N6 O
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! , ]7 K8 _' H6 H9 Y" i u" ^& u s" }0 Y: Z; g
; @* C2 i7 k7 N 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。3 p1 X& L& p5 d$ Q ^. {
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. x( J& R) e4 S3 z; \8 ~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), i' h+ ~1 i7 M8 P
7 {9 i$ [# ?7 E% x- _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)$ z3 J% w! @% e. z* _ ?
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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)- U/ g# `. l4 h- j
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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) : A( Y8 k; K& d# g! Z 1 _4 U" k/ y' I+ MIn 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 @8 O+ Z! E) L
& U0 u" }( S& [% }4 V; W" Z7 KShe 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)3 q9 g9 x# h L$ ~6 r7 L, R( f; F
- S- E2 t; X; y7 tI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)0 v* R2 t# L; _
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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: B( i& a% l+ v2 r8 n 2 v: l2 W# e0 i2 J* ?2 U' P3 GThe 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。) : t+ x0 }4 Q2 _9 v; }# e5 b; R1 k8 e' A+ Q2 }7 V
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.) 8 K7 v5 }0 _' P0 `$ C. K0 J5 ^
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。)$ f4 U5 |# v9 Q. w4 Z7 M
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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) # ~% e8 d \0 X4 D: c' W! t9 ~) ]" d6 u7 S7 u
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) " s# B/ V: Q; F. N: Z) | * S y% R- o+ K0 dEnclosed (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) : X* U5 d4 V$ x% _. l - u" V: J5 j4 O k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.) ( T6 |% t% N5 I; |" C1 n3 u h9 B3 u/ z1 \* U
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ' T+ _! A; S9 G! d , |$ `. m; @% U* e. X+ a' G# K( w! F' D 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」。& s; I7 a0 x% ?* J0 x, @
$ u g) B- Q: n" j5 t5 O8 d例如:$ g/ m' ~0 p% @0 |8 v; P
' O/ j; `9 Z& t: F9 L& \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)1 M* P7 Z; Y) `' R& M) y2 v* }" _3 ~
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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) ^% e; R! [+ M" D3 \ 2 Y. A4 \! ?1 a7 eThis 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)# o d l: T4 G" u' V
2 _# W. P7 d0 e5 U: r, S/ jHe (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。)) N$ r* v& D Z2 E7 q5 q! I7 D, K
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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。). I7 p6 }& L2 ?* a: i& s$ |3 Z
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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): [* A) ?3 T8 c6 T$ o! i. N& }: O1 e6 {
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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) % ?2 |' i8 V9 [; _0 d. G; M a' q3 I2 I; z9 X
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。): ~8 t% C% Z3 a$ T
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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。: i. v) y1 e+ h2 J" v9 ]* c' ]0 M
3 y: W5 R, p, D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:0 Q4 \/ u' J" m9 w4 b
6 {$ X) `$ C4 c1 ~! M! ?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; . j; h8 ?5 _7 ~& O5 M; v& d $ K6 m' ^0 C2 S" E+ |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 U! t" @( v+ u2 {' q% F
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; . n( Q' Q" {+ A, ?2 f2 M3 k/ z6 |* R7 ]5 M$ i1 f6 m/ z. c+ S$ o
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ; l. C2 y/ Z6 e5 \) D: f z0 _# J4 h) E o9 m, ~% x5 [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:8 B! _4 D% x0 V. ~" ]6 f* H
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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)。 7 g- W6 J4 b- N( }9 k1 D% d* B( m2 x) b. I
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)。 3 Y9 p$ K# H$ `& i