$ `. E; o7 m* i, TMany 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) F& N! l$ v6 n' Q
/ i X/ O* K4 F7 s" fThree 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。)) V* r z$ l! s9 I3 P8 z
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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) 0 Z' E. o: ~; E. v. |9 ]( l: ]3 I% t0 H7 a* k0 n" s# H6 ^4 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?)- T" J# [ {5 s8 B( Q
* r; e6 u& }" z: P, e/ ]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。) 0 z% W0 F; S- U7 d 6 p B( t4 j% n' C# Q! p# xMr. 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) ) y' a4 ?/ N; g2 K' T7 N. G( o5 Y s
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!)" T% H# a* P$ P" @8 O
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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). X$ l; e; Y. B* |7 @* I
9 Y) u' D% v, O' L9 S* `& BWe 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。)7 g( S/ `7 q9 k i/ B1 }% P
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Please 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?)9 ]/ W) ] v S2 H) R& T& ^- |
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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! 4 V( b1 N6 n- V3 j4 l( l0 X- ]: G! {. Z6 a
7 Y5 p% E2 \- h8 g 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。4 n1 k$ V3 q8 v& \
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例如:; X2 N* M0 s. o
8 W5 [$ d& b; W, l6 xAt 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) m( C: j+ j R5 g( h- b& r) B* j* r% n
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)% z5 U O( d* U, ~% m# Z$ D
4 A. o# @1 J! E" P3 N/ O i& T, mI 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)2 F2 L5 L& B) I8 ?2 L
4 K: L) a& ~: |' ^5 ZHe 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) + P. X0 D% j. O- A6 j$ u% n( _6 Z9 ^+ d- M5 Q
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)6 x; _' \3 x; T6 r; S
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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)6 T3 |2 y! u, R4 c$ t7 h6 A, M
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) + u7 c; C! T Q) r" W 7 }8 n1 H4 i; X1 o! |6 Y/ F ]$ k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: ( w2 s( R/ M% U1 d 4 h" G% t; _+ SThe 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。) . p# }4 E+ H5 V: T/ L# Y1 n1 [* E1 d+ K6 G7 L: I' j& A* x
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.)2 N8 a- J% {& ?5 y+ n
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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。) 5 O" G7 q8 A, }- }9 {; O5 S# s3 i1 l4 {( W% [% m, C% [
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); Z4 v/ [8 ~6 G& }& z `+ T
' ^+ f: y6 o- O+ I$ nWe 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) ) [& }% \3 ]4 |: w4 N% j9 e) P1 r, a. k+ J0 g5 e
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) + h$ J- v \* _- l# q6 E* F0 E, ^ : q5 F, S4 w* f; H: {! e/ H l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 R$ J; N% g! c* G
) ?. c8 L/ m3 D此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。2 t: {3 M; H% d% k% v3 v
, a( e" V; Z* |6 A0 |3 ^4 B6 O. Y9 _. ^- h9 p+ G5 W 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」。 ; W$ y& o1 d3 [( W, m 1 ~$ P! ]( a! G9 y例如: 4 E( E& m( v2 Y- i- u, X* @ k) L5 ~ l
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) ' x o2 n4 t, Y+ w2 y5 i 3 A/ x& Y9 x) q- }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)' | J5 I. F; i8 \9 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)* {. e3 |- B# k: C
+ f7 Z: F5 m) O- }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。) - w" H F$ R; I8 t 6 }1 g* m+ O* h) {; @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。) - L* J* s1 ^/ N4 Y5 F& R+ O # M3 L, l- h6 `. i. bPolicemen (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 Y ^* T. ~) ] * G2 M/ [: ]- `6 [5 Y, W+ rCongressmen (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)* D' ~+ m6 f+ I) v0 N5 g; ]3 L- L
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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 I: m" w. w5 _/ o# }0 z l
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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。) \. y/ [* B7 ^5 f; Q
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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:% p) R! X5 C% q9 W
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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;* Q0 _+ D: e; m7 P; V
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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; 7 z+ R: U# V9 q& w6 e3 Z2 |! f' f2 A. q1 p% C
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; & Q i; Y" K! t( w: C- N9 X0 o" Y; H* `$ u% ]6 ` q
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; # P$ P/ [! Y+ a8 ]7 _9 y: S& ^& v c j4 v% w* b
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:# f3 n8 m5 U( J. G, w
& c: `" Q2 z D9 v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# l4 f; a, H M0 l9 `/ g: Z) u0 R
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)。 _; h' p, c; \4 r* y