& Q) ~1 E) A$ G ^. p- {例如: . J9 {6 y6 a# R% U5 B. w% n# u K$ {4 `' t4 @, X4 t/ k6 A! ~4 V
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) 3 z" ~8 X: g: A. a7 i1 Q) m2 f- N& G' d( {$ {
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。) " P7 r* l% {- m2 |- e: ~, \: q" B. {( T2 S0 G8 Z6 |! w0 i
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)# r+ g( t- Z+ S; P! I2 M
6 L( h8 ]( S5 X& W+ [1 gThe 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?) & _9 j' q; h2 I9 r, z- @ 4 ^ ? w. t: w( [0 ^3 WI 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。) 7 E7 M( ^7 T" F8 v9 q" b C. j 7 I; D' z+ l( V& z% g) PMr. 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) 4 `$ H; l/ T7 v5 a ( F9 s- `2 L% J' U; IWe 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!) 0 M! R8 g, t% `- x* x. B& f* } 4 ^5 {' X9 q( KThe 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 a( ^6 v* V/ l6 `1 ^
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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。)% ?$ Q- K o" @% R( X% R; m
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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?)4 x6 P& h I% C; b- a( Q) }
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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! % I: L1 n1 o+ a! B3 b& W W 9 i y( V3 m2 ] b! t $ _. A' @' t% W& f M* Z2. 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。; `5 `3 g/ u6 l' J" M; [, g0 W
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例如:$ L5 [( X& N/ H
- o( ]( ]* l( M' f- {( M$ S4 D' JAt 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)# z- H) y7 l( u% _
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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)$ W& ~) L2 b5 N0 V [8 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)3 G; @) o: O- Y
8 i, x9 \* i9 [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) 3 ^$ e* }6 H$ o' L 7 A0 Z' h7 {$ _0 B( c& MIn 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) - i- r# q7 Q0 w3 |. O5 V0 K. q. j: e) G* v% J( ?* I" P2 S7 [- ^
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)' `# E* I' ^5 Z/ i$ x O, {' s
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) " R% Q& J: n2 I: R8 R- w ; n& j* D3 v# U/ ~# @+ A ^ v3 z) @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:6 L4 U; e0 {0 ^
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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。) , |+ W9 ]6 @1 F2 n5 ] 3 P0 k4 i- p5 k7 g9 H1 a# W ZThe 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.) / g8 G( }1 a% K# Q6 U% o; x# A [" O/ l% r$ p& q- e& Z; p6 h
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。)$ e. \6 V! G# c6 i
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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) : z/ Y) T' w5 Z L- Y# O8 x : K, t# M, l3 Q/ U2 d- k! G) \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) * I' s e* G1 [+ a) F # W7 S% p% R0 V) B2 \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)1 M4 D& ]5 u1 E& U( c5 S4 D' g: q' e
7 a* V/ j. D% Y l% j1 y* z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.) + J/ a' ^. P2 m% B) {9 I3 ]/ X. Z- ^& P1 A9 b& G; n% u
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 n7 c7 o2 x! ^, B! ~# z- K
" @/ g/ E# z3 T+ ~# @: K( v2 v* B" |2 s4 { 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」。 , V" c3 J, Y5 u! d6 i; r% l$ p, G( n; U. o+ {" e; d8 U% ?
例如:) ?) r( X* [7 m' u4 h4 S
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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) 8 }, s1 |& N8 v t) p. \8 T2 z& @/ M" E: D6 ~3 {( k
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) / ]0 t3 k" F2 F X- v E0 n* `0 _3 w& @9 KThis 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) . T/ y& S7 o2 v. C' k$ [1 E i# `) o m- B, Y
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 }/ E# Y) t( V1 i7 ?% ?
& N) J- e$ L1 o. j. R8 fMany 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。) # O' O. J* j, K! T5 M' ?3 ]" ?$ n% `4 Y8 f P% y% O
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) 7 e' x3 m- D u' H0 F, g/ h4 \' V4 x) k. \
Congressmen (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)& x8 Z7 ?( P1 o# \* H0 a
# A" n! w6 ?. i) F/ K8 n8 YStewardesses 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。). r4 r) v8 B. b# }8 g2 ^$ L
5 ?+ R0 b" J" q/ [3 r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。 " d; v. Q6 |6 |0 o3 ^ ; x1 q7 S; b- M6 u$ ~4 m4 ~9 Q$ i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: " g4 L' j; @# Y7 c, R5 G& _ ~, o6 R8 C# m5 d" z
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;/ k& A5 H! j/ u. s6 k* y
( q. D. a" S9 f. t, H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;, e4 T' B1 f$ l+ z
( R! o$ }, X0 k" b对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;- U, K4 @8 \7 }) n: @" s1 T
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; + ]6 y* Y: t+ d! j+ b$ U9 N' i5 q0 \- Y7 {; f2 w* }( W
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: 7 B M8 a Q' e$ Z$ ^, y& Y) P& t - ^2 i1 `+ e$ Q, K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)。. ?6 }/ X* `+ y% R5 A
+ b: h3 Q, `0 D6 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)。/ m8 J8 I( J1 i* y7 p$ Y3 \