本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 7 B$ w8 ~# O! k* U
; T' \2 U3 j1 ^3 Z% P9 J7 A转帖 . C6 c: |4 }- T% t* K2 i1. 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) 0 r; `7 c2 D3 N! b7 f' v* x% e o7 I+ y. g& Q9 i1 ^
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% } E. G( F3 U* a* |* |' KMany 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). g* p) U( U$ C j) s6 D' f) s
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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。) _. E: H: b) M
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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) + T/ z$ I2 I) M& x- ~$ V. r1 k+ P0 y7 a: ?" I0 s5 X: a" K" k
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?)- ]+ E1 x$ v4 V0 |. D: C) 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。) . c9 @ x1 M- o2 o! [ o+ j# m 0 c% @) r+ F) P5 v5 {/ t# V* {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)6 X! b8 Z' x9 R' `' H' h2 J: f: m
$ Y2 U) `- \. n% R5 iWe 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!) r5 v5 T6 G! h2 k" m2 J" t1 |* V k9 O4 J
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)3 O: d' b. i6 Q! L' s
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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。). ^1 F4 d- Z0 Y2 q4 q
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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?) 7 N) ?/ e) y5 ~# p# \ 8 m' \; s6 F# M8 R& n$ W6 }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! , i, i+ | L$ o! t6 e) T6 P& z: q7 f7 K. {0 y: |6 ]
+ Q! X6 ~4 _, T& l: \ 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。 : h8 A. _. c, h0 i! M# w2 b/ h6 H0 y- m3 D
例如: 4 b- e* s/ F: V1 Q# ^2 E& A# R0 y a# |1 I+ \' |, Z) AAt 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)) M5 m" h. A1 J( g
$ c# O% p5 u; k; H6 g* bDespite 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) ' o' V/ I1 T! x/ l! t # u1 e6 T: z0 D. u2 l, Z0 S0 q, L+ d5 eI 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)& R/ P! ]3 C! w( G8 v1 Z
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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) " k" `/ H3 H3 h: T1 \! A* o) ] 5 B& N" l1 c; Y# @. t+ TIn 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) ( p$ y! Q4 n7 w8 h& } O8 Y7 z, ^ [# y; u" |- _8 `
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) 4 k" b }5 Y; y9 G1 e# u4 B2 g
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)5 G# I% n) a/ Y% S2 ]7 t# i
- t: [# t& f% \4 F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:, e6 f+ c' U' t3 P
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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。)) @7 x% ^( B2 g7 _! ^) B& u5 I8 Q+ I
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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.) ; x' x2 u' u9 a, i5 s [& O0 \7 i/ H$ G* `
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。)% h0 @7 Y4 i( l, R* }7 S- q
q. }1 X) f0 }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, z' t- L* L) A& V & J! j! m5 h; D$ M8 ?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). q' D& Y7 b8 Q% ]' S% a
' C7 u" A" ^3 G! C6 A4 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)2 [0 M# d. i# t: V
1 ]1 ~+ y ^0 n, X( v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.)& i1 @9 v- f9 @" p7 m# y; H' G
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。* `' p2 {/ A" j% J
$ y- ^* N* N8 f9 U* W I! r# P' c0 A3 ]; s 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」。4 l7 c1 A8 U1 V* j- b
( Q, S7 R! K9 Y8 \: N6 z" O例如:* b# E: P, p9 @( W. W
- n! S, b7 k. mMankind 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)9 x6 \8 q" L* Z5 ^* @$ c. A
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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) 9 u4 O0 R, H+ ~9 J$ C% M u0 L! v9 C, z/ k* p, {
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) ) e3 n- d' I9 h' U: Y& N: l% f. w1 I1 B& F
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。) 6 _: H9 s3 d, |8 M4 I- Y3 j " ]+ r( _6 k z# x) }% 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。) , u7 \( Y3 x6 g- L2 G# D$ f3 C5 _) `' z& ?1 s8 R- O- @
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)1 o! K! J5 t% ]* B7 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) , X- [+ }4 l# |/ }, G, Q2 J5 I! X$ W: D% Y
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。); M# i0 a F4 A) P
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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。1 c" v- ~9 q/ t4 q# _
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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: 3 F8 e2 @* O8 _; h- {8 x; Y - n9 V/ i/ x/ G3 a# u+ {; [* B% 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;5 j- s7 h# l5 q/ i
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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;. r' A+ _0 e; t0 D* x
* Z c- P8 d6 e: j/ b, U对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;/ B9 m" C2 v, f
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;8 O* V1 n' X/ _- E* |1 c$ E1 q5 D
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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:9 [8 @& Q- s! t0 f* ]7 U
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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)。 ( J! N' C+ U8 Y4 b # }1 |6 q9 t6 O" r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)。 ' i9 t, U1 K* k @