' G9 E; b3 `) ?5 g7 R9 oMany 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)9 L6 A6 n: \9 c: u' c; S/ T
1 w& W5 r6 i0 I! t. u: T6 c# \/ {: R4 aThree 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。)7 ~' [' z0 E% } V4 K1 b1 _9 H$ E
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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) 8 o! ]$ a; Q& b6 s+ [, v" Y. L, `: o- t0 N
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?) : d$ g' x& Y+ Q/ L1 S; \5 O& b/ U8 C2 Z/ F6 i. j
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。)+ b; q2 @6 j* K" X! }
4 M) S) m! d% s9 qMr. 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)5 V& D0 P- \1 f# W' G
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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!)4 j# L4 `. C$ D, s# G. z5 T
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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) - E$ j, ]) Y4 ~: m) d" l2 E8 P % @) F- S2 K0 ?- e, q' g; qWe 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。) 5 f9 p& e5 r: D0 D; G! T ?! t : P: v8 l2 @& jPlease 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?)- m. N4 _, ?* p! O6 s. i
. W* [5 y3 N. v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!0 x9 X6 R( b8 ^# @
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! X* ^2 y* F* p1 ?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。 ) H+ |& O v7 ?4 W: F2 g* Q! B9 Q- z/ g% I a
例如: ) F( {4 H4 ^" f' }0 i) J" H! }1 g+ R6 a f- f% ]( L
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)0 U8 S; b6 D: p7 `/ \8 i3 v% _
' p+ r7 n" ~ k1 t( B8 C( HDespite 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); \7 B8 e/ ?2 w& g2 n; k; j6 t7 }
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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) # G9 l$ ^. Q' h9 b$ u6 O3 |# @2 _" E0 Z' c) }* z5 }% U* l
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) 6 i: f' y+ ^" p1 ] p6 t) V/ n* A ! ]+ }: B: ~. sIn 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) 8 `. o% y9 a4 h9 h$ C 3 `7 U0 P# Y" \4 [1 h; d# KShe 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) ' O. {7 s3 ~4 N 8 S- v0 k6 v7 T- H" k6 JI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)& e( W* [% j# e2 a7 H
( b& j7 I9 W7 g1 X* p8 ]4 j1 b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:4 K& l3 V" P# Z# `% z9 D
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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。) ) q) e! H) p/ n+ a1 w- E1 L: F( S8 ^) f* n3 K, M
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.) 8 K0 M; q6 c% D/ U; F 8 T& o& ~5 I5 g1 P. @1 S; l; 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。) 1 z- G" q# q' J+ ^- V2 r- i; H" \ |; C+ i) E2 u
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)" k& Q3 j5 |; K9 H* E5 O+ f, ^
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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) V1 e! m2 \7 S ( ~; [) Q. o# j5 C2 n0 p |$ hEnclosed (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) ; a* U1 f9 v8 t: k9 s: | . d9 |% f; ]2 J. 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.) ' o+ |8 e( M/ z& F* z( @3 _' I* g& l0 }+ J2 O
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 8 `- @9 j! W, S8 {) N( v7 H1 m. [; d7 l5 N; [! u! Y. M
8 v9 E, B& h; AMankind 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)6 H; s) U! x# L' S/ r) f
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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)* v6 w- c- M' U
! [5 t! R4 X/ B; A% B* H+ n* xThis 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 Q7 v0 q K9 W% D- c I/ a" J, J 1 @3 g3 N0 d- H% Y+ C/ ?5 [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。) . V( I: d5 n3 M) x& v# j 5 h4 \# h& ^7 z: C2 OMany 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。)/ }, a2 t- }. G* }( X: [4 W2 F$ _
, |# f9 z7 q8 Z/ {6 p9 DPolicemen (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) ; O+ Y5 n& x! o; A9 ~- q" f 7 Y6 ~- {3 V! C0 LCongressmen (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) [ h% O" U6 q6 q
l# z' A: I$ v& l4 I$ {% }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。) 9 R( ]$ ]# _( M0 y, T, i7 A 5 E& L) [4 x h$ J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。 3 P1 M2 T, u# T0 z+ C: ?5 u4 X7 _9 V; 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: 9 ^, L4 u6 W0 I 3 N8 ]2 ^& E8 O* K k' r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; I% ^, w/ @' t0 y* z: B5 X
" f! q& E {* Z! t7 ]- N Q: }8 Z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;! c6 ]7 \ @/ f a# { |2 j: O
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;0 C1 f) d0 x% z
3 c% O3 d3 u, O7 |, E- M3 F* r对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; + ?% v8 C6 J' N, [8 L! m * ], u- [& X" e% ~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: " ^) m* ?6 S0 R' o _& ]0 ]6 a5 g _3 O( R2 U
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)。. z) e. |: h4 r l
7 t, ~6 ]9 L2 I6 e9 f4 a7 V% ]# a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)。8 p( g' `6 w8 l0 R3 }" @$ I. s; h