本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 5 z) f1 p" M" V% Q1 a4 q) _4 M / Y' J% z8 Z# ~转帖: o, P8 R4 G, V) T' X: _2 E. j, t
1. 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 j5 k) z' \* \2 }2 z. W s* B- p6 Q# N% R7 F例如: / @5 y& V* D* T0 i5 Z2 f `" M6 A1 B" g& p3 |/ V* T9 a6 k" ]
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)* c* B; j5 l {* ^2 }3 I2 |
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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。)# w: W% f* }0 \5 D( I& S
8 p: c- D( l+ b/ ~1 i! x" kThis 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)& c1 @1 F' n4 P* l3 P: p7 e. Q N! r
$ g# P/ ~1 B5 q( M6 KThe 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?) . y, B) A* |. M' B8 d% W+ P$ @( g% l0 b. T5 \1 r: K; ~
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 D1 D. b, n- Q6 L7 }+ M# n2 R" t
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) J! X- q: ]7 V+ Y8 N 1 ~, ^- ]% J. S. F- y$ bWe 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!) * u: G7 {6 e* H1 C$ `: z! r; E9 r6 {% }
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)/ o! r0 C1 r. H; \3 i k" h; k6 Q
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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。)) ?- ^8 q4 A3 l o6 H4 O, b' L
5 F" b! y, ~, n% Y4 ^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?) , O2 ^+ \, p$ Q+ v2 b2 X7 G/ l b' f, B5 u: ]
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! : s) K& t8 B5 _) P( G3 f 8 {4 U6 J) [, v$ k! o7 w6 D* O u; M7 A: q6 r) G! V2. 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。 7 @$ B9 o) J" N; h) h; O: z; t! S! |2 _
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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)8 j6 _9 ^; |1 h, y
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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) \( s1 ^, S/ G$ R8 U
# X7 `: P" K- z- l" `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) " a6 l" u2 c/ T. b% }0 o . k8 c& l% {) |) }& yHe 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) , \5 L# ~( e/ l" I+ z# j/ u- k! F# O1 g" Q& S6 X/ @
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)0 D; W4 D M7 T+ h5 E+ K
! ], H, B8 Y3 f4 p3 o' ]: o9 dShe 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)6 e# V3 j! L X% N1 o( C) N4 z; b
3 J4 d v4 `) SI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) + `+ Q9 {% n6 Z+ p 2 D( z/ s# ?& Z! `: A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: V4 [3 x7 a) ~0 t, I& V# B( f# T, R- b/ V" T6 c, P
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 c1 k) n! G# c4 P
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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.) ; h- I1 M7 Z+ h- G8 v+ j+ f ; v) o! d3 F4 E6 a2 D9 P3 c4 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。) + r" _* Q' J$ b+ q3 j: l * ]) I4 M6 @1 HHe 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)) F6 i& G0 `* e. V4 Z' a
3 U2 M: B5 F* @# T! }; [0 ?. [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) ! y! T2 G! i! [' f8 v8 k% Y. O' _) v1 q% R
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) % s4 B% D0 u0 k& _$ D9 U. s7 z8 ~( X; b/ D! J' T, @
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.) . H8 ~1 [* N- P1 J$ V' n0 T0 Y7 q- }& N* i* P( H
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 % H4 B3 S; x* z5 ^1 | 3 h& Z: {9 G0 L4 ?* k% e( w ! E' N5 F# p0 u4 J3.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」。 ' I9 T. G/ f% E& i, @) b% v. w( P( i3 Z, K' F- L
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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)( @9 u" H, \8 I0 e6 {% B
5 C2 _8 C4 A( m5 ^/ [, MManpower 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* ?- K# S3 m4 `/ z/ y' P6 q8 ^1 f2 {' C4 Q) @' j
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) " t4 M9 ^+ j B- V: o7 L0 M2 ?: b' B, ~. G& _1 m' B
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。)* ?' n( r; p) Z6 s# `. t+ Q6 y
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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。) / g6 Y* W, `3 O( V8 t0 g, k# f& m7 q" y$ o4 P+ b; r& }
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) ! Z& T$ i1 I8 z$ ]. i 7 t9 }" c4 W8 |4 B. BCongressmen (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) ' b% O* c2 p9 V6 V- M: ~0 a - z& ^0 B+ ?# q+ pStewardesses 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。)6 L1 B G' d2 ~$ [, F1 e S% G
- @0 y" g7 y0 I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。& k1 j9 C; f" ]9 |9 ^0 p
. |' r `. o* x* y! O8 m6 ^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:& d7 E, `3 ~) C: \. f3 t
' Q7 I, r' L# f' }, a0 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;% i! ]& P4 l+ V$ w
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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;% x9 q* d" p6 ]/ {: C Y