( b* {. U. U4 ?; e8 u例如: * s$ U: @/ M) g& g- Z1 p& [, B& N. p/ G8 @
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)0 q/ h( `% q3 Q
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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。) ) m8 O4 M5 T% ?; w) v2 B6 _ F* D5 S& ]0 X
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) 9 B" H' G* d7 G7 W4 h; _2 ^7 [* a4 p" s
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?) 0 @) A5 Q- C/ @% d1 r) V. L7 Z3 b. s; M8 v7 o) U) |8 m! b; R
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。)3 f4 U5 S/ N3 Y N2 g; l% ^
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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)) y7 L8 `9 U b9 d
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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!) + b2 u3 {6 J h' B2 r: E4 I5 v% [3 e. x# X' r e/ |& h1 L
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) 8 b7 B2 ?! p- J( T8 J: Y5 ] 2 ?* U* ~7 ^9 v* I: K* S- ]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。)0 X3 n4 z( Q! J5 z
6 S. E9 ^ ?/ |4 J9 O% GPlease 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?) # P# c( E M+ A h! D' v" m : \0 E# o. r: O9 A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!% k# X8 P, O' D0 R8 ^3 m7 d
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" a/ u1 L p5 _4 ]6 N/ f1 J 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。2 u/ Z9 | f$ s, A) y( F
2 p0 b. W; g E3 w0 c7 B) [* ]例如:7 s- v& u5 l z F% T, D2 |$ [1 p
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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 T% K, I7 P# k5 ?4 c" q 1 S- P8 }" T4 q* A4 PDespite 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) + F: h& P+ p4 j s 1 R$ `7 N1 t W4 k6 X% FI 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 R7 H W/ P! } # ^. g8 u5 {1 [) O6 THe 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)/ G$ @6 S" a8 i+ r) ]
/ y- f, I2 T( m2 D- w- [" a2 e7 aIn 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( A4 q! V1 b4 l
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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): C! p3 S) V/ u \& k2 V
. D/ s* O' c, Y: s) l* gI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)( X+ P# q- `) ~. g# T
6 h( _0 O* a1 ~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:3 R0 W, i+ w# [8 {# `4 ?0 D9 J! C
4 D W8 y) t2 Z9 q- LThe 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。) 4 q: A! J$ b# k* G" Y; s7 `% x( A. c, D$ e1 x# K' \- }7 j
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.)# R" A6 R! G1 c4 O6 o
) m0 {3 [* F/ a( y- a; V. X3 w- THe 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。); R/ O4 p- y! t: D" Y% {
4 J. `0 E& h, h% DHe 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) / v1 E/ o" U0 b, V. K0 v% j7 X 7 L* ]) _9 M7 `# q( ^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)% Z v7 b) F0 w: A
; q. _4 E9 R- ZEnclosed (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) * Z! K* y3 n- R1 W' \" B: \! p: l8 H# z8 @. ?( N4 @' e* w
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.); _5 g* Y) l" v* z/ E! ], P
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 2 s' Z$ o, E, E. q' k2 {( P* Q 3 p) K0 g% v X$ F1 X6 v 9 P+ D- F' C; n5 X# G+ 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」。 * C8 m- }+ Y% r7 d( `& S" D* d ~. R F. r: G% F$ t3 L
例如:3 J1 r* A. R4 [* O
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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) ' z& P2 ~2 U& e) H; i" r9 b9 v, c1 u& r
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) 8 k3 u! l- K1 E7 E: d' Y# L7 |) b* o1 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)' K% I9 y! Z( M3 R9 f( v
. e8 ^! J E+ H5 XHe (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。)3 u" M5 P" ~! `. t( {# I: F
4 q. T5 I. J$ }; u" `0 GMany 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。) ! V8 N2 x0 O5 b 7 n! m8 ?1 P/ t- x" tPolicemen (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); K0 N8 q& B" c! u+ q8 }9 S, C9 k6 l8 u
& ]( A/ z0 F0 u9 X' BCongressmen (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), \' l0 X; E5 w m* c1 f
. i2 v9 x9 I- H+ V9 KStewardesses 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。)( Q3 J+ G' A7 L+ _5 X- ?7 ~