- Q( X+ r+ T) O5 W) }* {( Q- i例如:; d1 [# F/ d$ L$ c& j( Q
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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)+ w% z( H7 k% V% x, \% p
; g7 m, `2 f- v5 N9 YThree 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。)1 S+ [3 N& Z! t; i2 K& L
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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) ! O/ `8 Z, D3 u8 b% f3 g# c( y % R, H' N" ~+ a0 rThe 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?)6 U$ g. r# ?0 \6 b: p
% u* Y# z, O$ L, r, `5 O, CI 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。)# H6 d( @* N* Q6 r" ?% ]( U/ F
+ p: R# Z4 C7 W. Q' |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)) F8 @9 R, r6 r f- m( h L: I8 o; m
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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!) - p. t. n( ?# A2 M ~0 f! ~: Q8 r. z
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)1 l8 t# Z1 l! y) m
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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。)3 J$ @' K* \5 ?6 ]0 T
/ \( g3 x% z b! \; D7 wPlease 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?) % M3 |* r q1 @ ; C# L1 e1 P; d* t2 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!: @" p" y& X6 M8 p
+ y1 o. @" `0 g" i ; Z/ U% K4 }& n/ r: o2. 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。 . a' u# q V9 K2 ? * z0 B& Z5 C, |' }8 t例如: " r8 k8 |8 _4 U4 H+ l5 B$ w6 i: U6 {, _: @: 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)3 B) ~( y) ]! s/ R
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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)2 K( F4 n$ N) s
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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) % y( P! O' h$ I) b2 g 5 o5 E1 O2 c% b! [7 lHe 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) + t- n: x& ?* v5 u. ~. G& m* i. h4 G& o: U# H
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)7 z% Z/ G) j3 E4 L" _' g
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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)# ?; _) w/ i" q! H
% p. ^1 g2 y- F! c. F# LI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) % {$ b( O) E+ o/ D( o% h) ^- | 9 q4 N+ x3 E0 h$ _5 L* F& H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: + {/ t9 Y u0 _& P& \* R2 ^+ J6 a' F$ ]/ H/ @2 ~
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。) 6 E% G1 p- Y: T# T( j" b& a7 o+ o4 P& Q P3 r) w
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.)9 k! T% ]) r* A j4 a
* |5 \+ j7 f' w4 E3 w) KHe 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。)0 N- j# R( G4 E5 H
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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) $ `8 p+ J: t# l) o" I2 W! s! [ * e) M# _" I5 n, N0 zWe 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) : ]; w3 B& |0 G% s6 C( m- H) `* J5 U$ @7 i. k. _
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) ) B3 |1 E1 E& [% L# R0 A- ]( m* M5 g% j( Y
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 W1 X4 k- q- Y+ D5 d+ {+ ^' F% @ % [: Z& m. L+ ^6 e# M4 E/ c! f& I此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 + j& ?' U) n4 L9 R# r9 X: P0 \. ?; p4 ]7 T) V
: m1 [0 E' R: q# A t; f 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」。 9 X, O! J5 P$ Q0 d* d- G 4 `4 }$ S ^. [9 G例如: B0 n! F! ?) U' i4 s& }( L% e6 P4 N0 Q
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) F6 _4 v8 M0 {/ Z# A$ E/ z! E _% @' v% @, o. t. J
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)4 p& I X& v: y* L2 H5 b! ~
8 Y, ]. y: K5 h; y7 \' tThis 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)+ W$ i: E( m4 m- q& w6 I$ ?* Q4 F
# x- X0 ]" L* M# Z' oHe (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; \( K" [8 m& _# |3 Y6 t8 H2 v
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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。) 8 p: U; F2 d& O o; {# l: w8 @1 {3 i
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) 4 \# L( a1 A; t; {8 v . C- z$ [" {1 UCongressmen (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)) \ W) ^: d, K
: `0 d8 B! T% `) ~: U* D, \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。) , {! N w B) u# `2 A9 F% b/ {4 U5 [+ o! _1 n
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。 & q( V# x( M0 n; A. D 8 ~% [" r g; f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: $ w3 B Y; Z$ c3 V0 Q! H ; j+ x) Q+ b4 o; V: A2 o7 o2 w; E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;' X' Q4 k# B; f2 s ?