, A- X/ A4 \* Q4 b% y7 x m& DMany 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)$ q' s: c( H& V) [
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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。); s$ [$ G: O3 P' M
5 h/ c2 C4 E6 ]! d/ eThis 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)' @5 y; g0 r( N; ]3 q! v" P3 ^
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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?), L& R! q0 j( {' o% }" `- ^% L
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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 J9 y7 T7 E" }0 g . Y" Y+ y5 {: N6 l3 V0 _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)$ P7 D; D$ K5 U5 V1 W3 r. Q1 m
: @* l+ L! E7 V2 UWe 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!) 5 `* S" q9 l8 I& ?* N9 A ' [7 d% y# {, b- c% |8 |5 }7 i+ j( _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)- B0 W- B% ^( o8 |' l, Z6 Q
! w9 j+ g" u' `) t: u: M$ JWe 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。) ( ~9 S4 n- O/ b4 d: i( s _ 9 X! Z; X" c$ {# T7 O6 VPlease 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?) 3 P( f) {* a) U# i ) a2 r, h. Y' x$ l' l7 U( y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!& v0 f! s5 i+ k; u$ e+ w* a
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4 D7 Q6 q+ M9 I 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 e; W* N7 f9 n" q9 \' \ 3 O+ j4 ]1 W7 J& R例如: ( e5 U5 V) R9 R; Z* ?/ `1 j& {7 R, @) m: s
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 M! \! P$ r7 z7 B1 ~- i
; J, N6 H; Y0 r4 r; zDespite 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)0 ~# J/ h( c8 h4 c
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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) 3 r- j7 k* m9 Q' c( {) R# O2 s6 \1 z/ R; h) t# O4 X" _
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) , D# F9 j& [4 j 4 ]" E$ U D8 ?& RIn 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) b- ] M$ u. x) G- _3 ~4 ~ 8 f1 |) A8 v' B5 C' u2 [# 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)3 j1 ~4 L# @" z r# Z) d2 ]
6 q% j* V3 J N) ?" H$ I# KI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) + P9 Y# C* w% D+ q K: d" K5 B+ q. J9 E m
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: ! E6 `* U" L1 r# e6 q7 s( _4 J# _/ J5 _; r
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。)& ~8 ^6 l. K% O- b- S
$ S/ Z- \& G5 R+ |; 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.) 5 o2 B) ~* u6 |, O* ^! D! ^ / `! p; I$ M) J% L L5 X# {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。)3 r: ^5 F+ W/ A! P, V6 H
' W" b3 K$ Y0 B. _4 eHe 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) % _; D c0 c4 `. P/ Z; C * P+ W1 f+ z) 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) H" w. {3 a0 _) ~/ K
5 U& y/ ?# \% q& @4 t! l- D" `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)& c. V1 G; b" o; v2 ~5 C
" m7 B0 l g# R( f) H) @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.)* ?8 A. E3 R( q% }
$ G8 D7 z2 [) O* p; f' T1 \! e此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。# s4 ?8 l2 @) Q% t& F
5 P+ z3 _* C( |5 k6 g( m e3 L/ Q3 a1 P9 K; S3.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」。- A" o' V% e" Q3 V0 l# \
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例如:( ?0 ]& }! m E$ ~6 p( t: @
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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)$ m; \: T, v7 l! p7 _: A% C+ ?; b
7 A' b* A' d( v3 C( o. P% p$ d2 SManpower 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)& v W7 \3 l5 j9 m1 m
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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) * M0 D& U- x4 X8 }# g6 j2 i" G V; U. R3 p% z/ Q0 _7 T, f5 e. M' z
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。) : d, e3 U7 M" _+ e; } 9 @1 g, x6 l& K+ \* `2 t, xMany 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 ~2 A" W' v. ^0 w! V& d
" N! s: H2 i, P- SPolicemen (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), D1 k! i& v1 g9 V3 _1 C
3 e+ D$ Z8 \% j/ oCongressmen (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), B$ F% w$ z9 P6 q% ?4 l! `: |' m6 N
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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。) 7 B3 ~. \( }) N- X2 L / M7 d$ j/ s" g同理,我们可以把 salesman 或 saleswoman 改为 salesperson;把 mailman 改为 mail carrier 或 postal worker;把 foreman 改为 supervisor 等等。 5 G: Z( Q( I' H" o+ W( i' `' _# N) [5 S* Q6 L+ n& O; i6 l9 h
当然,一些带有种族偏见的字眼,甚至有侮辱的味道(insulting words 或 slur),也要尽量避免使用,以免闹出麻烦。例如:. i6 S: o+ Y3 s) W F
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对黑人不要用 Negro,更不能用 Nigger(用 Black 还可以),礼貌的说法是 Afro-American 或 African-American;% T3 x [+ b* x% P" [4 r
5 N& V5 `) V( b5 G1 t+ f# W对白人不要用 Honky(这是黑人骂白人的用字),正确用法是 Caucasian,或 white people;* n0 I+ D" o0 @* T- \! e. h/ R
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ) m5 j- o& ? G ' q1 e8 h+ b4 F对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;) V- d \) M8 K, \ k
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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:( Z( m6 ]* W2 F" J
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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)。 # L' ?7 Z, X) \4 y0 I3 q1 F# |/ v) ?
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)。: }7 ?% J' D; H- g* E