本帖最後由 ace 於 2013-9-8 13:40 編輯 * P5 q. [ C& ?# k/ u6 R- U# v
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1. 尤其在商業上,報章雜誌或公文書信上,盡量不用難字 (big word) 或過時的字眼 (old-fashioned word) S# U6 I F; {- R5 f
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例如:
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Many people feel that moral education is the infrastructure of higher learning. (許多人認為道德教育是高等知識的基礎) (如果用 foundation 或 basis 代替 infrastructure 就更明白)% X$ R& E4 P( ~, S( A
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Three hundred acres of land is the parameter of our university,s expansion (growth). (三百英畝的土地是本大學發展的限度) (如果用limit代替parameter,會更簡單易懂。)
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This news has been disseminated all over the U.S. (這消息已散佈到全美各地) (如果用spread取代disseminated,不更簡單?) (動詞時態是:spread, spread, spread)3 d1 y( o8 \% z$ J( m0 Q
& r9 V9 ?. K$ MThe president of this college is not diminutive in size. (這大學的校長個子不小) (假如用small代替diminutive,不更明白嗎?)
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I have to elucidate this document to my staff. (我要向我的員工解釋這份文件) (如用explain代替elucidate,也許更明白。)# b5 {4 l6 E3 R4 t4 x/ @
3 }2 c6 t3 Y* F! [, N3 K9 oMr. A will endeavor to be a physician. (A 先生想嘗試當個醫生) (如果用try代替endeavor,會更淺白。) (endeavour = endeavor)
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We hope to visualize world peace in the future. (我們希望將來看到世界和平)(如果用see代替visualize,也許更簡單!)
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The charitable organization solicits for our annual donation. (慈善機構要求我們一年一度樂捐)(假如用 ask 代替 solicit,更淺白易懂。)(solicitation是名詞)
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9 q$ T: A8 p2 m( N5 Z$ XWe don't know what may transpire when we have a new boss. (當新老闆來後,我們不知會有什麼發生。) (如果用happen代替transpire,也許更明白。)% x$ ~- g* A% M1 ^" M; I+ n
3 I/ I2 W. N) s3 ?! l& A+ ^Please act as soon as possible on the aforementioned matter. (前面提過的事,請盡速辦理。)(如果用 previous 代替古字 aforementioned 不是更明白?)
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& H% \0 q T- H1 V6 {: L6 S9 n這就像美國大文豪馬克吐溫 Mark Twain 也曾說過:「我不願在字典裡找長字或難字,我絕不用『metropolis』這個字,因為我同樣可以用『city』這個字來代替」。羅斯福總統為了強調美國政府不會遺忘那些窮人,在一篇講詞裡用了這麼一句:「We are endeavoring to construct a more inclusive society.」後來被人批評咬文嚼字,賣弄文筆。如果用淺白易懂的字眼寫成:「We are going to make this country in which no one is left out.」或「We are trying to make everyone equal.」也許更簡單明白!& T7 ^ Q1 }$ l
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2. 老外也主張不寫嚕囌或絢麗的字眼(flowery or wordy),句子應該越短越好,一句能用兩個字,絕不多加一個。! [8 {, m% z* n; O6 I7 R, m4 f
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# ]& ^2 }! \' Q0 ]7 DAt this point in time, we should pull together for our goal. (現在我們應該為我們的目標團結一致)(如果說:Now, we should pull......更簡單。因為 at this point in time = now)# t5 A5 S2 o, B/ A4 \% C& C
/ o! c0 H; ], g6 U1 xDespite the fact that my English is not very good, I am not discouraged. (雖然我的英語不好,但我不灰心。) (如果說:Although my English is not...... 就更簡短。因為despite the fact tha t= although = Though)# T9 H4 [! R$ u) H- `9 P2 \/ k& k
6 K* g; [# F- EI am of the opinion that Mr. Lee should resign from this position. (我想李先生應該辭職) (假如說:I think Mr. Lee should......不是更簡單嗎?因為I am of the opinion = I think)
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( N& m3 B$ V' D' G) F4 bHe quitted the job due to the fact that he was sick. (他由於生病而辭職) (若說:He quitted the job because he was sick. 更簡單。因為 due to the fact that = because). H9 m4 i9 F# r' l T
3 F8 m. e% E$ O, j) k$ IIn the majority of cases,he likes to ride bike to the office.(他通常喜歡騎單車到辦公室) (如果說:Usually, he likes to ride...... 更簡單。因為 in the majority of cases = usually)
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0 K2 b( }' e( a; ?$ TShe shows a preference for tea rather than coffee. (她喜歡茶而不是咖啡) (若說:She prefers tea rather......更簡短清楚,因為 show a preference for = prefer)
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% B* \% n% w. S% a' t. U7 n$ TI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)
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& c* g: Q5 z! \ t& C0 x, L如果只說:I will tell Mr. Wang (about the matter). 不是更簡單嗎?因為 bring the matter to the attention of = tell = inform) (句子最後面:「about the matter」可以省去); 同理,也要避免意義的重複或用字的多餘 (redundant); 例如:5 v2 w' ^# l; y$ |
4 V: p- H4 ~9 ^) z, S9 ^6 \The consensus(of opinion)is that we have to act right away.(大家認為我們必須立即行動)(of opinion 可以省去,因為 consensus 的意思,就是大家的意見。), ?) W, r/ y! f. ~
3 ]2 v. p0 _' K- r- w% k A7 IThe letter shows that the problem(continues to)remain unsolved.(他的信顯示問題尚未解決)(continue to 是多餘的字,因為 remain 已經有 continue 的含意。所以句子就成為:The letter shows that the problem remains unsolved.)% T0 B7 {2 |" |1 K8 a5 o
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He has made his (final) conclusion in his speech.(他在演說裡做出結論) (final 是多餘的字,因為 conclusion 已經含有 final 的意思。); h3 c2 o! Y7 |& m# v
: B; | H& ^4 b/ U6 {0 rHe has had many years of (actual) experience in business。(他有多年經商的經驗) (actual 也是多餘的字,因為 experience 已有 actual 的意味)+ V" |. a1 S' V
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We assembled (together) all the parts for our radio.(我們裝好收音機的零件)(因為 assemble 本身就有 together 的意思,所以 together 是多餘的)
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# W' s; j/ M. C6 A& e% ~Enclosed (herewith ) please find the report of the meeting.(herewith 是多餘的字,因為 enclosed 就有 herewith 的意思)(即:附上會議報告,請查收)
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0 |% ?4 _" `0 g寫到這裡,想起一位深受美國人民愛戴,一向主張不寫長句、不嚕囌的美國已故參議員 Stephen Young,他每次受邀參加會議、演講、宴會時,他的回信只有三個字「我會到」(I'll be there)......。也有人打趣的說:「講演或寫作的句子,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.)
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' f. t" f9 A0 d" I此外還有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。4 E7 c. E& L( Z" o) r+ A5 A6 c
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3.老外為了族群和諧相處,除不用歧視或偏見的字眼外,連男女性別,也要避免區別,以示「平等」。: J" O. q, b3 K
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, f9 l9 d {, s5 bMankind are considered the smartest animals in the world。(人類是世上最聰明的動物)= Man is the smartest animal......。 (如果改為:Human beings are considered the smartest animals...... 就能包括男女。所以 mankind = man = human beings) (注意:mankind 後面動詞要用多數,而 man 的後面動詞,則用單數)
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& c/ F' X; B0 b* a" G+ v8 `Manpower seems not strong enough in developing our economy here. (發展這裡的經濟,似乎缺乏人力資源。)(如果說:Labor power seems not strong enough... 也就沒有「男性主義」的感覺。可見 manpower = labor power = work force = human resources)' \1 E* b4 J+ c% \5 Y$ m( _2 @: t
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This small company hired a cleaning woman yesterday.(這個小公司昨天請來一名清潔女工)(如果說:This small company hired an office cleaner...也就沒有男女之分了)
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8 W; ?6 T; l+ KHe (she) has been a committee chairman (chairwoman) since 1998. (自從1998年他就是委員會主席) (假如把chairman或chairwoman改為chairperson或chair,就沒有男女之分。) (如指討論會的主持人,也可稱為 moderator 或 coordinator。)
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% c4 [ V1 S( k# ~8 k BMany businessmen (businesswomen) feel their jobs are very stressful.(許多商人覺得工作壓力很大)(如果把 businessmen (businesswomen) 改為 business people 或 business executives 或 business managers 就可包括男女了)(凡是單數 man 或 woman,其多數都是 men 或 women。)
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/ V: [5 R: j$ i) {: VPolicemen (policewomen) should treat citizens with courtesy.(警察對人民應該有禮貌)(假如把 policemen 或 policewomen 改為 police officers 就可避免男女性別)
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Congressmen (congresswomen) should speak up for their constitutes. (國會議員應該為其選民說話)(constitute = voter) (我們也可以把 congressmen 或 congresswomen 改為 members of congress 或 congressional representatives)8 }9 ?% M* D4 U9 D3 J
9 e1 C9 ^/ K+ J# }+ a$ e/ FStewardesses for international regions may get jet lag sometimes.(國際航線的空中小姐有時會有時差疲憊的現象)(如把 stewardess 改為 flight attendant,就能包括男女空中服務員。)2 m& Y& ~, c5 i6 m# b, d
! E/ r3 |& m; O0 G5 d c同理,我們可以把 salesman 或 saleswoman 改為 salesperson;把 mailman 改為 mail carrier 或 postal worker;把 foreman 改為 supervisor 等等。
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當然,一些帶有種族偏見的字眼,甚至有侮辱的味道(insulting words 或 slur),也要盡量避免使用,以免鬧出麻煩。例如:
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對黑人不要用 Negro,更不能用 Nigger(用 Black 還可以),禮貌的說法是 Afro-American 或 African-American;" A) \% b4 W9 ?6 x1 g9 r+ n
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對白人不要用 Honky(這是黑人罵白人的用字),正確用法是 Caucasian,或 white people;& c; N8 |% `* ] w2 t/ v
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對猶太人不要用 Hymies,應該叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;
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* G- q* r/ E7 W, T( ^& u6 s對越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;
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至於墨西哥人、西班牙人及中、南美洲人,包括 Puerto Rico,正確的用法多是 Hispanics 或 Latins,不過據說西班牙人為了維護自己的文化,倒喜歡別人稱為 Spaniard。 更多信息請訪問:
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/ T% [# B6 [# u5 n% c還有黑白結婚的孩子,也不可稱為 Oreo(Oreo 餅乾外面是巧克力,裡面是白奶油)。
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+ ^5 s4 j4 z* s; x0 u) r `有偏見的老外,不叫華人為 Chinese,而叫 Chink 或 Chinaman(從前還叫「Yellow Peril」,即黃禍)。遇到這種事,怎麼辦呢?我建議:「君子不與小人斗」,最好是「不理」(ignore)或「走開」(walk away)。不過老外與你談話時,如果使用這些不禮貌的字眼,那麼你就可以說:「For your information,the word you just used is derogatory(或 inappropriate)to describe someone of my race.」(只想讓你知道:你剛剛所用的字,來描寫我的族群,是很不合適的)。
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