7 k/ {4 }5 {4 L( r# c. r8 t) E. |/ t例如:# f' m) B% V1 j& r
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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) 4 u" |5 E3 {, Q6 }; `! o* \/ N+ l, k7 v$ t, @3 @$ L8 N
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。) ! z/ { V, e7 h3 |# Y2 |9 S% v1 u( L l5 w1 G: J3 S
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) ) }7 ?1 ^3 s8 T' c! T% Q+ }# ]' c }9 e. t( R; }: M3 {
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 F& x' C' ?$ R& _/ {
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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。) 6 w/ o* m7 p4 S% t2 y2 R+ ~+ C
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) + H( m6 s1 ?4 Z% S+ y8 Q# o- O2 M7 x9 f$ Z0 d$ j" N" I3 Z
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!) 2 m$ H p8 l# ? - R$ H# t9 K; hThe 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) 9 f/ B9 V, F' T/ i + N6 R! _- \, ~! ?3 G0 CWe 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 U2 ~* p1 J$ @+ |% P8 |0 M$ s
* O, o/ z v; n5 UPlease 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?) * z4 u4 f; s" N$ ]: J6 e+ B6 R: ^ & `; F: F3 F; T9 N2 \) r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! / E5 X) P e( D. ^ . u! Q1 A' K: _9 u; S/ k( C9 s: P! l2 R2 P2 A' f 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。 1 j2 T% N# z- X0 v/ f; k V: [) l5 F& w8 h9 ~1 N+ I
例如: 1 a' b% L# w3 Z% Z' s% |" M # ^/ y( W) q! g S8 E' `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) 8 o9 ~/ }! H* A6 G, H/ ~4 f # e5 ^3 x6 l+ wDespite 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) - _- _6 h& _ ~( O3 q + ~* m7 B/ R# {8 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) * v, |: H9 S! N8 ?" H' R- @) m) {
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)5 Q; l. u0 D6 N( Q+ v
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In 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)9 R0 x+ k# w3 i% n5 ~/ B6 f
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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) 0 i+ S' k" M9 W- L2 _8 K }4 H ' b, ?+ @3 W7 f2 H" \9 gI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)- [# h. x+ b/ f% n% Y3 b2 C q; x: Y6 A
$ H2 }+ m0 x. _- g- {3 s* e7 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:: F2 J( K/ I* V6 h8 _2 @6 @
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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。) 1 {" V% o4 ]$ u( C % O8 r* A: Z, Z+ \, C9 tThe 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.) & @# a) H# ~; _3 h K0 R0 V3 G; _
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。)* L1 a/ _: J" p# J) T8 V
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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) : n% X8 m7 M8 Z2 T m' s/ F3 d6 ?; d- J- @5 Q6 S. {6 B
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) * b! P! W; |6 I2 Y0 v8 |' l! m _" z$ C. H {1 f6 Y
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 O- K# _9 ^7 x & S/ H& ]' h! n2 t+ f1 o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 p1 F, Q: j6 s( W; _, E + A/ Z g& m( k( O+ E- X) z此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 5 B/ o. d) h! |# K" F! k/ t " c$ d" n3 T1 J6 ?# D* N & m: M8 a& w# t. w0 W, D/ R% @/ m3.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」。 " @8 [5 o. s* W, \, J5 f1 a7 h) r" {: X
例如: 2 B/ J4 o2 o6 V, S& y: ^$ n: m% r0 A4 u. d( L1 `6 X! `, E
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)1 i7 E; S) m0 `9 v
6 E5 b/ W h. T* _9 ~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) : l- n5 v9 T6 l) X3 w i4 z; _4 z6 j& O5 G" f( J' x
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) 2 u* m( d! W$ V4 W, n3 X' }8 ~0 ?
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。) 0 M, ^- K9 b, i+ H4 A: R * C; i! h# \/ I' @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。) 2 ^$ a9 \* g4 }4 W/ r( _; K, h k7 S3 o- G7 W: j$ e3 Y
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) 9 i: `: C! S5 U5 _* L 3 T! a; j2 k* x# K( T4 k+ ~" nCongressmen (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)7 \! p8 X# Z- s. N- Y9 Z4 {
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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。) ( s! h+ F# C! h" m2 |- K0 y3 S ' c/ r* ]8 u& n+ U$ E0 P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。 ) n& T$ f8 I$ D+ ]0 B# g 7 ~- ~0 U# y3 `6 _/ r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:3 |# g5 N: ~4 H) R
7 o, T8 A. K8 N- 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;$ g( d" z2 s! g' O, g P' E
' x# T- V% r% I' {& Z% G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)。 ! o+ c- P% q0 T% Y! p6 t* m3 ]