本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 - G; S. j9 Q* Y D% O+ j) x0 Q* ~1 \5 U6 f4 e 转帖 ' c& S! k8 B( E4 `1 m/ y5 h1. 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)3 y, {( K8 L6 e4 {% n2 ?
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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)$ G% Q9 n9 Y, f7 o" |9 U3 r) K
/ l4 J, f" Q; }( ~+ q+ AThree 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。) 5 }5 [- t i& O6 I! O' G: Z7 x1 T) w$ J7 o+ Q; ~
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) & d4 h4 n" ^; n- g$ c7 D" f& F. V0 G% {, ^1 x: k% k$ r
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?). A/ f# F+ p" A- b
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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。) + y9 U$ @! S$ m$ i% z ; P7 @" m$ ?3 a5 I. o3 \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)0 I. R. R% |1 ~$ ]4 y- E: |) u
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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!)' O6 f, U( }' H( E. C; ?% m
4 J8 [, V% R' N5 f+ yThe 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. Y; c0 R$ P4 Z0 X2 ?% h$ Y: h5 l* b2 k- U. j. c2 O
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。) / y: U0 ~/ R- x. X6 ] Z3 n1 ^: `+ U/ @% U- @) c( s0 f7 W! M
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?)3 Q U! G! N& y& W( B, j; |
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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!! C# r* T y" k) m3 @
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( U& h1 ]0 Y1 ^2 H3 K& b: @3 [$ u" {" R# 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。1 l$ e) `' x9 R
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例如: . M3 G6 t, n6 D 9 v% R7 N3 g+ ~( v& EAt 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)1 @4 y N B5 Y0 P& h4 T% z3 |/ r" b3 a
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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)) _6 A( H" V( {' h- C; X
. W" H8 n# }& B7 ^$ I, ^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) 8 m! C g3 T# ]0 o& v Z5 _, w5 u8 M# J/ [
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)9 m- F; m- ]+ R, u0 T
- [9 z2 r" U& p; V$ p/ a( vIn 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) ! d# {# U0 O0 s+ G7 M, v2 L 6 z0 X% O& l; u/ ~7 @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)8 E9 H: d. @+ h6 \
( D: j7 f7 J4 J% T7 II will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 6 H& x- d& c& `5 N1 r6 L ) U. M* _3 v6 j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: ; k2 u. X0 \8 z n9 k" {, n8 S & P1 ]* T$ l" `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。) P+ n+ C6 W+ v
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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.), j3 K, t, X5 V+ [' c
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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。)# x8 z! J$ k# k
( A7 R9 Q) m i$ E9 m" b* S9 y- eHe 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) 1 ]) t2 H- y0 M5 n( A9 }! S* b- }) P& C+ c9 S0 z
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) $ C( i8 D$ o* e" S! t 6 b: r0 y7 N, m* LEnclosed (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 U1 j6 j# ^$ p7 _: u6 ~. p9 ?; ], s& O5 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.)( Y7 X3 ]! P# O6 Z' I
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。& t- T7 i8 U+ M- z Z
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7 Z2 V5 `/ Y s7 z例如: % n$ n: k/ ?+ b' g - s2 b$ I* C& IMankind 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) s, c" z& o8 }# X7 n! Y3 l# `
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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) ; B1 R! o# _! s% [! i! [ ; h# m; R; h0 ]. u N8 e Z2 dThis 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) / R. ~' K( m9 a. I6 S! c 6 {3 N' v8 y8 h( L! b c/ R. zHe (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。), @: k$ F- e* h& W& v& v0 ]- V* _
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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。)1 Z! Z6 o' k5 J9 Q( _
# f7 h* q' Y) x* KPolicemen (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)- j# ^# v0 K* r
+ s$ B7 O1 a' J( rCongressmen (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)( P2 `, j! R& N
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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。)7 @6 C% u2 s5 X$ [2 `* T' f6 q
, t" l' c4 ?0 V- _) w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。 7 y; T( h* k5 ~ H) B8 z* N5 s , Y( x/ g+ Q+ o" L- W" d! j; r# ^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: * E) ~7 g- g, K7 S# p* w- a' E/ z; y9 Y: ]. B( p' @6 v6 Z0 `7 }
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;1 }, V3 d* i2 i1 M8 A+ ]: b1 ~
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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;; I+ k2 q7 O3 T! ~5 c
4 t b7 t* p/ t, i& B$ u& N$ K4 i1 Z: n对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 8 ]/ Q8 U4 D* k1 E% K 6 j/ b. Y& f) a" e对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; , x: R# ]6 i4 Z7 {3 {- e1 H) k7 I; g
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: : c3 a% b: s& x% e( b% l! `. ]' J W% g1 G! \
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)。 + _* S h9 C9 q+ o2 r# q 9 V3 K6 y% W; `, _$ }7 ]* u& [/ \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)。& [$ D6 p( G! r6 a: O$ f