2 I% N& L7 x; Q! M" {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)5 l9 a' M9 B+ \& H' A4 D
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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。) % Y0 p8 X! y1 E2 U7 D! N1 s8 X 5 I" u7 z' c4 _9 G& IThis 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) ! F) _2 t& j" w$ i/ X M5 T- ~7 K A$ k" D/ h. L
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？) 6 J; d% T& ?" e6 o' g ' e% F" s3 i" L( H. E4 p. YI 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。) ; |' q J& ^4 P5 Z C + ~% o+ I. J9 ]0 M& OMr. 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)% P2 d; R: p7 k4 g3 D
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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！）! j1 }2 D$ k: a- G2 p0 h
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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): ~9 |/ h9 [# H, @
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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。)) _+ [6 ~' c! J* a) Z& w
$ w n% l* s2 d$ e" ~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？）- O/ W. ~7 h: ]' T( e9 }
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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！) a0 X& M/ ]; q- G
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6 K, }" c. A- j- H# j! D. ?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。* I+ C4 e* m. L$ k7 g
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例如：$ }+ p- J# Z7 r7 t k$ k8 |
, ~) ^* d! w& U PAt 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)! d* i7 m; ^) B0 @, d1 }# F8 x
9 n7 l* M( J' l' ]4 |4 G0 ^! Z; `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 K6 P( g# F3 {0 {' d* 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)& N( B6 x$ S& J
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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( [ `& b+ a& J* H0 _; G0 a: _6 R1 U' q0 J/ x* z
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 N Z/ J# A7 S! Q6 k+ |
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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) K2 y8 D. f# ~5 W1 i* L3 ]/ l1 S
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 7 @2 f, a D* Y" j 3 ~3 p3 }3 L4 G/ W4 n% P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： 0 `# ? \$ \2 {+ { / t6 y( T4 u- c3 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。） z. y! S' _/ v; j
' e- b2 j$ Y/ W2 h( d7 dThe 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.） 8 d* ~, z. @ B3 X3 B$ v' J! H" 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。） E+ v2 s- V) Q% E7 G . T2 v& o% i0 {# {" f8 q, ZHe 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）6 \2 L' m% |6 ]$ _$ v8 i* [) ~4 K
) w8 R& S" u% dWe 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 M( Q" d* [# p7 E1 L% U- u% Q9 \
# p: S0 x2 ^+ B8 l6 f+ fEnclosed (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)0 D4 ?+ d$ A$ \& `. N' E
/ K3 P6 v# d( g. x, Y" k7 j; S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.） * A$ f3 J' S3 X8 E/ k) N3 K$ y6 I* M0 O6 v; [; w/ g" u; U
此外还有：in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! x& i! H! }1 m/ j; E ]( L
/ }& k: m0 L) g / C0 f2 q7 }# B6 W5 I( [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」。/ P# s e* B1 E2 t% t
5 P8 i" J: q2 \ K0 d例如： + @" A% P9 |! L% K8 s: e/ N" t9 e) w" ~2 b
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）7 M# X. `. a' M3 }
' Q3 U8 z$ N3 J2 BManpower 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$ s) }: T h" ]; f* R; F
D% A: _. [1 `1 S# IThis 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）$ Y: C: D3 q; _. D. I) Z& ?
$ r( j7 C3 [% ?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。)4 w2 C! m& p& w, l! D+ T' c
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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。)2 @: M5 A" m- e% |& j
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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）/ P% [; F# ?- d ?" c! H
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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）5 W$ s2 T, z. g, i
2 W0 h+ `7 U7 ^ ^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 o; }* c9 x: k) ` U3 z. \1 e+ V8 [4 b0 p- 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。 4 r V# h% j4 K! i; n( X1 O3 z" J* M) \- l) S
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：" m' Q1 D1 K" F; d; u8 R) ]
* u4 ?: T/ P1 T* C. r+ h- M% T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；; W& c+ D0 p- r6 Z. C
+ W- T6 g9 P; p/ _, J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）。 5 f: Q' V; V1 T( \8 M( C5 M
发表于 2014-1-8 22:50:21
