本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 : j: G& o1 Z' H" R. f# j . X6 D( M9 B4 |' v/ l- |) z3 N% y- n转帖 1 @# J* Q. L" r1. 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), s. d8 G1 _2 V. b7 v: y
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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)/ ?4 X: q0 p5 V2 q" p
' k9 |% o; r4 l: xThree 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。) & R7 E/ p+ @: `. {3 t ; p$ P. w. @" tThis 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) 9 y$ a# c9 n5 l) h$ V4 J. S+ o" V8 z7 J$ u% Q8 r" J5 o
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?)! H1 ^- i/ x. R% m4 G
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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。) 2 m9 }3 ~/ f. r; l . L+ `) a: p. j' B2 wMr. 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 B1 O5 r9 s. ]% S, f0 O/ e) Q& } D$ n2 P$ i: |1 eWe 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!) . N# R( I! v" E. ^' ?. {- B3 b & N. F2 ?- u$ D" c3 {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) ! \" t. f& `2 N% K* W& V: }: L # B/ Q( |' z# q5 F" s1 x- f" C" fWe 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。)# ^ X; K1 a! ?9 L b
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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?) $ R. y. j; `1 n( t - T& T1 I* w% [7 w; }' h4 P+ v& n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!- @" r0 j1 E. S/ U
7 v# W& i% s9 U" ]& u" f& J4 n5 `* v. a5 ?. s( N! j 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。 2 D2 M9 [2 e# \. B) D' R' m3 {5 P4 C4 S! k5 C; ^
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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)' u7 X; [' J8 o" [$ c
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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) 8 c, _+ M K+ D# v7 O. r/ B6 p6 g# ?, h) N
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)% M) V; Q5 m8 y
5 T2 G- W# c1 t' v- sHe 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)* g6 j- ?3 A4 A
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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)* j1 z5 }9 N+ q1 p3 l' e3 \
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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)" R% G. a$ o, ]9 e; a" f
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ) `" a4 [+ d0 W" r ) z4 e5 i) I/ q: }5 d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:5 o: J% u0 f- ?& f! H5 H
2 n6 j2 [3 T n2 {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。)) t' Y6 ^6 k* o# o
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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.)! Z: h' ]: s6 W% Z( M
4 x% X: k# E h5 D8 l" `$ E5 |% U' SHe 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。); L6 J1 }7 \. ~6 y$ D G9 p$ O7 {
& J$ Q- J& U) K5 _$ C& X( A7 |- nHe 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)( I3 X: C& x3 N, Q- B# {7 |
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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)/ w$ D# ?$ h4 C: Q1 `' Q
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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) 2 p9 |0 I4 u; ^4 V; B3 D" l0 i. M- [$ k3 |
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.) 4 o9 S# ^4 I; H& c: C% N 2 K9 s, { h. ~. V此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。5 t( s; ~+ b8 s8 ~2 L: n
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* I, X( T7 U3 p# ]( S' M- E- H3.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」。 , N# c" m/ }: T5 x H. x% {( V0 ] c/ b4 |4 _: R( ?
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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) 1 A$ B9 H, F( T x$ p" ?+ G6 o4 j0 E3 x1 a4 k' ]
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) + r- a( T" q( ?' E b1 I 3 \: N S& C0 Z* }8 i- 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)" Q2 l- S5 b$ L
5 ~6 o% k5 N1 E+ H; T3 MHe (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。) 9 F9 n: ^; P1 W0 h B+ ^* ~* S# Z4 p7 I' O+ D
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。) , l2 `; U# g ` & x+ P& V5 N+ ePolicemen (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)+ t7 M3 Q2 @! s
; J, {8 J$ a' S: C+ g) x2 l) tCongressmen (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)+ K7 q- ]" D+ ^
$ q9 r8 M( J& i$ C2 eStewardesses 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。) - N' T4 L; J; B3 [/ Z' _8 A% r# T- A
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。 9 F( h0 E( V5 B/ h6 N/ x1 D) S6 H- n9 B" G. S. n% Q( {
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:$ i* ]% ]2 {9 A# A
% |# i. Q: B) u7 Y3 h6 l5 z1 |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;' e/ n0 v3 \7 V& e: ]0 Z
9 p6 g3 t3 j1 L$ X3 H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;( f; V1 g5 j& Z% O
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 0 m1 M6 J& {( ]( o + Z5 w& [0 ~; x" t对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; / k+ [' r: K; x9 z8 ? 7 P+ V4 D+ m! t# a y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 O, G% B( U6 T* F
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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)。 x4 V# ]. {3 @" I6 ~& [6 a # y+ a/ h1 D- {7 |: @6 Z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)。 9 P! |& g4 Z& b0 g+ I/ `3 n, Z