3 x. |3 H3 M( s! ]! L$ fMany 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) # v, ~! L' g- r ' ]' R+ J* ?) mThree 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。) # f+ W' r! [, U2 l* i1 y7 W# d; R: B1 h8 \& O
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) : s( t- t4 j) e; N/ J8 T# h6 A7 `4 y
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?) 9 p9 y3 W! P. u 8 Y8 u; U* L9 P4 }2 o. k* G6 |! |( NI 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。)& g# _% n4 m |- x
4 k4 D4 R) w, B$ x# y0 @8 IMr. 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) - R$ P% C% d8 z; w0 Y 5 Y- h9 w* i1 }, z, n- ?7 F9 L- tWe 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!), j1 L9 B R. V/ R4 |8 R; t5 b
4 T+ A9 m' U% V+ ~ {% e! }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). k0 N2 \, \) a. z* i3 u. ~
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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。) # ]7 J+ j! ?4 |" ~& D. c ' r: u' Z4 }; c9 a. r APlease 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?)9 b& b* L" |$ ~. s. X: Q
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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!% _$ A( X. Y/ q: {, l9 y& @( G
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4 u+ ~$ h7 s( u3 {" t2 E5 H3 {2 o0 w 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。 % E" H: m- I2 x$ @: ~/ i " l/ c; o2 b6 N5 R3 C" W例如:8 u, [) t+ P8 g7 _: u
9 @$ b8 Y% `# J) `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)7 Q; N$ f- o% k# {4 C. J
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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) ( L1 |4 a/ m4 u: M( f! ^8 E " J) O( _& F9 ?. P7 h) i1 iI 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) + m( t2 y" Y) r) P( | v: O. w, Z; Q1 ?2 g2 n9 y3 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)7 \* \. K K) b, `+ Q" @
( q6 K% ]$ \, a) ]8 IIn 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) $ n3 w/ \5 B# D: [2 y9 ?! N; J" `+ d& G) b3 c$ \, `
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)& F7 j* m' J; L5 e' |3 ~: V7 d h
1 \, ~% B/ ^* q. v& X" \" ?4 sI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)) F6 u: E4 P4 P- X1 j1 D
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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: $ N# A( i) ]) e$ p$ x/ \' x* w' B0 T7 R
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。) 1 B( h- _! n, h 1 A8 x6 U4 G* w2 C( cThe 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.)% z* [1 S; L3 S3 \/ }* Z) G
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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。) a: L2 W0 P$ H: I. i
1 b# v# a% r/ u) O' ^* 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)* ?# C$ o' D6 i% c, P [: l
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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' c- p+ F; u" @( e; f: p p9 \
3 z: I: O0 J) D9 ~; s# {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)* f+ R( W- Q* w0 r8 c
# b& [8 V- t+ i$ e( _/ N% j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.) ( F* q! B) H% `3 h5 p1 ?2 R w' P5 }, j
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。+ H0 D3 ?+ r& Q7 e% L* `
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! ~" U! P' x9 N, ` 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」。 $ C& o( b6 L; `& [" L) Y) g0 X! [( o( L- @+ q5 @: ?+ F5 j j
例如: ! V; S2 X, O3 W# N! L8 h+ ^$ {1 [ k# R; ~
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) 2 Q8 `# K$ ^8 a6 i5 B% `; E % _/ g4 H& {) }; f6 _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) ! s/ y5 S6 X; i5 ^- W/ o% r8 x, l$ d( m- q
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) 9 Q2 C X: r+ o J y v& l e, @& \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。) / Q, p" Q/ r7 ^1 m % t9 ?" M# d* e1 KMany 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。) % ]3 R4 i6 N: ~" \# d6 m+ T% R. K; y2 F% X/ 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) ( v. K+ `5 ^3 y0 i0 O1 z$ Y: a% \) E4 M' O* ~ w1 f5 I4 [
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)4 x- n' e% m7 h: l2 ]; y
5 [" J6 I# T1 x& w8 w UStewardesses 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 {! Z$ H0 M0 @0 E & l8 z+ k/ N D& W8 A: J# Q; Q& { v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。 $ A" A6 S% s; Y1 ]7 k: [ C% J) t3 T; {9 I5 [' v. ^) X' L+ D
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: . W4 J C V6 { ; f! S$ A/ T7 }5 C- V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;$ c, y" ?2 j% c
, @3 J2 k/ e6 l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;- V2 j( G1 n5 T3 L. c( _/ U
j* H% g- y n2 O7 j对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;# z0 D' }$ E8 K v" m4 j
* l! ^2 x& q: y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:- l4 h, M; g3 h) \8 e, x6 T e( Q
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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)。9 D/ u- x7 K9 {% R
& a( Q7 ?3 x; `# j7 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)。 $ S" b; P/ K* L# J, `/ A2 o/ s) l