9 f' z+ n- i/ ]) A例如:% I4 J9 p6 b. G b. a$ u2 `
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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)6 f6 r7 m$ q& J/ N
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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。)" T+ u/ T; u$ C, B5 r! Y% _
$ b0 _# _$ v1 ~" fThis 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) % p+ u4 v" l7 P0 C# A; G) s, \9 b! ^ P3 {
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?)7 J4 t) f. n, K8 C5 A0 z
, k' X* [, k6 H; ], r7 o p' H8 rI 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。) 0 I" K/ L/ _# }! i& d" c. h! O! v% R$ P: @' \" {/ W) G2 u0 V
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)' G9 Y! k) W2 }" q3 n
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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!) - O/ V, `' ?6 q! A+ ]- ^/ D" K2 _" B# Y( e h
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) 5 ]& M2 A& g' z+ G5 @6 Q0 G8 C! [0 }4 c" E# x# v8 F
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。) , M/ Q; ]: C% [) e% K% Z) V) M9 X9 ~* z- l9 L+ C8 p& B2 b" r5 h4 Q
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?) 2 R1 j" f) v6 M' o/ E" @- ?8 w 6 D3 m" j* A- t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!# n) `! a! R/ M; X; t. g7 W: j
0 A! V! H& ?; j$ A; y5 WAt 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) $ _% ~+ J9 Q' b' @8 S; T8 K8 |6 ]' v+ L3 g: P% o
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) [$ l9 R% j% n x, G$ G1 V; H: i 0 X. ~( d) r" A3 F7 [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) 3 J1 c9 m( b( @% \, r6 ` " f0 R# R( C7 d; PHe 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) 2 }7 k6 E6 q p7 @4 v" y* V: d3 Z4 P * G3 \( I) ~* g8 n5 uIn 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)' ?$ p) F2 ^& X) G- Q
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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)- D: e. `1 @$ D4 `- }
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 0 I# N" d* m8 g( B7 E* ?8 z4 A' \9 ?$ p/ l0 [0 ~2 V5 {. A4 G( H/ O, G
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: # E5 N* s8 t# U, T# I; ~# F) U$ Q' w
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。)' E, P+ o' o& F6 `4 x* U
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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.) " l9 C) u8 }) ~3 H5 e# U 3 S) v, m! r& h8 c$ G: Y' 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。)! @2 z# R% k3 R {- Q
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He 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)2 G3 G5 c8 V* m' ]3 }4 k2 [
! U p" a- X! h) d, B5 E, tWe 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) . X( H+ H2 }9 P9 y1 f$ U" r, t4 d) |4 J2 I( K5 u2 P* H
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)6 B* l# X# x/ g1 Q0 t! |8 D
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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.)# \1 p& E4 J) J5 ~
5 B5 }8 }6 h) B/ d此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 2 p/ x- x' w* {& y* _5 p7 c+ N7 J+ M* A& V5 M
' H1 G" w3 w; o9 |: g7 K/ N3.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」。 q5 `3 Y- u7 y4 c/ t3 E, k9 I2 Y. _4 |# p
例如: % h- q, d9 Y y( V' v6 O; E& [ 1 b# J8 n5 u# a, R* m3 P/ M( HMankind 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) 5 W1 S2 [7 M+ Q- _ A3 E A% B; b6 z. U% P: a9 r' y% c; M
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)& K7 L8 K' k. u6 @) F& T. k0 Y" r5 I
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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)6 q& E, k6 q; v$ a! C [7 u4 l
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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。)# i) D* S( {& H4 b6 x
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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。) ( J( m& v& N# J+ B9 U- C2 D/ Z6 W+ 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) 8 \0 s0 Q0 U2 j7 M) J! g$ s2 u 4 p. D+ P# [* v) yCongressmen (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)0 w. l4 B# n* }9 P! e F3 w
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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。) 6 I7 G9 I* M6 L: M) z8 G) E Y, b( Z% ~- X! b; L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。 / c8 t& r% L+ M0 b* z4 Q6 k- w) H( v; C& \" G$ Z5 J1 J
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:' k+ H5 _6 k$ ~; w
# K3 G: A5 a6 a/ H! M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; / T6 U8 J% ^$ a. t d* z A. E + V# `8 n5 k1 f' ~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;- @, ~/ L' n7 b; N' d, z" p
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;- u% ]! C4 F, B4 S4 V1 i7 S
- z( a* S$ [( I# p2 p6 g9 \对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ; y- n9 z. Q$ H$ ]# y9 P2 { 0 I) l& w2 k2 n C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:) p7 c' b/ B4 K# U# x5 b# f, 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)。 # z2 Q9 V# ?+ E" a" i; J $ U% k9 ] N0 k: a% y/ I: Y' @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)。* B: C8 r7 ?: n