7 b! u6 [% e+ H* [8 R例如: + k% W4 h4 Q3 I ) s. o: M2 X) Y% k& Y' F( A4 H) yMany 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) / L# z3 z7 o% e* \( y7 ?! R5 k. e) ^
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。) W5 |# e$ `0 v3 r! k+ y3 a
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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) 6 l8 D1 i0 o1 H, P 0 d" m9 A5 e3 A2 e1 X [9 bThe 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?)" U+ G7 ~7 ?7 c8 A, W' _
0 |2 P" o0 E% `. MI 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。)3 Y6 R9 S4 {) I2 E0 I
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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). H; ]+ {+ u# }- S' q/ ^- G _
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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!) 9 D! _( c7 X$ t; f, v) F7 v 5 M" H; ]1 S. D% A" V2 u; F; CThe 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) 7 [: X: F. u3 ]! Q # Z- |+ [2 A* M# a# T) k0 {5 ]. w, cWe 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。) - Y: F# y9 O# r% m8 A/ w6 v9 Q9 B0 j; p3 a* z4 W
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?)" R' x) z4 Q2 o% W! ^! X: k
! A8 h9 R2 y4 m: x5 b5 G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!# m; f }0 i/ S4 ~
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) Y) w6 c2 a- F5 x; [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。 & e5 a; G/ _. G+ f" M5 L- H* w5 a3 }" x) [7 i2 S1 ?. c5 [
例如:/ _/ x& I1 e0 w3 E4 E; z
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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) 9 j& U8 |9 }' U# L9 \; e1 l: W7 ?! N0 X G* A' U
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)( s9 P$ R9 l* |3 X' g' p
) y3 W3 E8 _' ?: D Y$ b8 fI 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) q6 e4 S& U9 ]. R1 }/ U5 m
. z+ |7 O7 N% x8 \: nHe 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) * N+ x: f* g! e7 l+ W3 A" p. Q7 O2 |7 W
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) 9 [" y% g- e, a& ]) I' w& d4 `1 i5 f8 L
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)- K7 u5 J+ T2 B2 N
7 H4 |: ]! h7 Z Y) g& lI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) . |5 W# }- \, V5 M$ f% n1 v/ K1 J, c' F) I3 J( y0 C" j" C
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: + i6 t: G0 i" } . X. `1 h1 }3 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。)# H7 }1 H# v7 B. R. M) v. }' M
- m- C% W/ z" V( |+ o5 E7 n; UThe 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.) `7 C% p/ W3 w/ }+ X8 D ( g% y) D6 `+ A1 X" b) ^2 U- k, rHe 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。) " Q5 Q) n2 ]8 N! K M$ N* S2 k0 G- o" x
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) 6 _' U: v$ q7 Q, Q s' p( ~ 2 f, x" O! Z1 d, L$ T. iWe 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) 8 ^1 Q$ ` i: E# I 7 O3 k: T d$ j: M+ sEnclosed (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) 3 I2 O8 p/ X+ F7 I( N; l* h4 O$ s- Q w7 ]
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.) X& W( f& j3 B7 l+ P
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 - D" Q D2 v/ E 8 i- S6 \) a9 p4 R2 X3 n8 ? I. t2 h- ?7 A5 I* I% 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」。 1 w G. i d8 Y5 E9 p. q9 Y# W f$ k& ^0 x2 s$ p% \7 c$ H1 h
例如:) I5 X- ?+ X! ]- h8 U
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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)9 Z" w5 G! d2 l/ h L/ `+ n' e' N0 A
: O: U5 g; J* w8 z7 E$ ^" {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 _& d+ d" r+ o/ n
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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) ' x w& q, r# _2 U' T3 }# O ! p7 Q5 \" B: C. }$ s1 T- tHe (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。)7 b# ~ d6 L/ o# c( U
% G( F. ]7 V8 b5 m7 yMany 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。)5 ` M1 m3 L9 P