本帖最後由 ace 於 2013-9-8 13:40 編輯
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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). F2 N8 {; E0 o+ U- h2 ]
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5 M/ H6 u# U( y; ~; GMany 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)
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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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) Q8 T1 H! ?/ k+ aThis 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): Z* w* u- f2 _& f
" ?& b8 \0 L1 y6 H# \* u. o0 wThe 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?)- f" t6 M/ I* X5 M" j0 H
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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。)
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- s! F7 A4 _' w f! ^: q' qMr. 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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" x: j( ^( W& c5 Z4 `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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" a7 U& K4 W. v" E2 P( Y, {0 YWe 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。)
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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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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!
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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。
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例如:
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3 p+ A% A" b" FAt 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)% ], Y' M; S: s; l
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Despite 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)
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) U7 l. X1 c7 z$ gI 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)# B: j3 I2 E% R$ u- j
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He 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)
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In 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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She 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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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)+ d! L: b1 X9 v [6 j/ W
: W q; N. {9 d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:
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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。)
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7 e% E7 \& Y6 s# v3 i; j1 dThe 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.)
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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。) M5 i W' X" m' M5 I& U) S5 ^8 V
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He 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)$ U& b" F* E4 D0 \8 s) U
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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)* U4 L3 q9 T7 [* @# @* F
, [ D: A! P; v5 m* Z7 ~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)- Z# F5 N B( E5 ?
9 i% }6 Q8 m( ]4 M4 H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.)+ V+ p/ M+ K' V: a6 U- b
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此外還有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。
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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」。3 }, E% W: |( U: f/ E1 U' B
8 }3 g: E) r! f例如:
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Mankind 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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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)2 \1 X! X) I- _% [
6 z. L/ J+ C: hThis 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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He (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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3 w8 H/ ]0 K% T1 UMany 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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4 J( G" X8 I: ~7 rPolicemen (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)
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Stewardesses 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。)6 @% x# b% W9 N8 }9 `2 s
1 |1 d* q5 @& i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。0 r9 U$ c8 m( a# C7 C- f! |
. |1 S$ l \ |5 {" S3 S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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7 H$ ?9 ]& [ \ Y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;' O$ ]/ K* B" D/ U0 w! I0 A8 ]
6 T5 `3 R, U0 s( B" G) i4 ~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;/ x n: Q6 _# b' v+ K$ F3 x
}2 F; D4 q( I+ L1 J4 z G對猶太人不要用 Hymies,應該叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;! u. r& S# `7 a5 C0 f' j3 |
7 K" P% Q& o5 x; D4 k) w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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# o, G0 u' @& U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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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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