& D* t. e) N, n3 M+ Q4 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) c: T3 \3 l- d, H, k) O0 b4 z/ C/ H" g
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。) % V& ?! g4 p5 z% W/ G$ U3 c$ k& w2 M# Y/ a; c- z- y2 a
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 [( T' Q5 n3 c6 }& n
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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?) 1 a3 g, E% K' [! O& o5 X1 U % k( l. @2 _6 r; _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。) 4 m/ u4 c1 h) E7 F1 B( b) X2 K 3 a* T5 g; b4 a8 v4 Z4 Z) nMr. 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)0 A7 | u1 s* {" F; ]
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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!)' A1 ]( ^& w1 F: D H
3 n w7 [# d; F) U. }9 i* k TThe 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) 4 } J6 B, ~* s/ D, |1 O% _4 p # y v3 y+ S) WWe 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。)$ h% r. s" {# H% r) o5 U( S
& B( u9 E7 O' a: d* xPlease 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?) . C- g) ?. q8 c+ }( N$ u6 S 5 h5 {+ u. W( K: N- ~/ E8 k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! x: j* b2 G' q- ^6 I% @9 a
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$ D# p! P6 E4 x1 X, S+ n2. 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。, E! ~3 i+ V# o0 f/ T
5 b% H3 L6 N+ ?* c$ J; A例如: ; P8 r8 J% s$ s0 A: p0 ]' D 7 ]8 P3 K/ ]$ @# k( ~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) # K7 Y0 z' Q. O, t6 \- E0 z1 m
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) 8 o, w7 b7 X' B$ O+ S* H2 I( d# q' V, ?# g* E
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, c- [1 L) Q7 v: x( n; ?8 I) 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$ w0 v( B5 m8 A- X1 M/ i* T- j, \/ Z$ f2 C
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)* w$ ?' h Y6 l, ~9 O
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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)5 y' q5 S" l( K
1 ?- C6 D/ Z9 I. r/ i- K; gI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) # j2 e {+ j8 G4 D) K ) X1 i, ?5 B" |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 ^6 H6 B7 I2 G4 U2 g : I7 F/ y; i1 \7 vThe 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。) 1 F! P; N1 _# q% W' j3 g' [6 s & t$ l- T/ h$ c! V2 B# vThe 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 ?9 b: D8 `$ G' r+ f* v: E9 {
9 P5 W, N9 \% @( u0 \1 o' k7 Q. eHe 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。)+ z ^9 _( H& P2 K H
; i L0 w6 l9 u- _$ t% nHe 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)+ Q9 \' O5 y3 D/ c
6 X: ~" C7 Q# h( d8 cWe 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)2 h9 g7 t- u7 i6 s O# @
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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) : O* y2 `- B' [" _3 x; \% x 9 c. I/ U9 A+ @ _8 d. q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.)4 [0 V' | ]; g+ z1 E% |
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 9 Y6 B# F- K% \5 O# Z+ u1 u" X8 V. K7 I6 E6 j
) Z) s, ?2 v+ ?5 ?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)0 L) [, v0 U9 w
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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) 8 }) z( B; O2 E& _1 G8 W" R1 Z , L( z0 ]* |- P/ l$ |9 XThis 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) $ {2 @! N6 A2 e* B6 a' f$ @" `* k. x- G
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。) 7 ^ {( e1 L e! ^" e9 R 5 Q6 `4 ~* ]' j- B4 I; P$ Z# BMany 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。)" p4 r l J% J4 C3 }/ l' O+ W, r
% S' k8 H1 c0 T" fPolicemen (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)) q+ r7 B1 P* T3 \
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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)6 n8 o7 B% t9 [! ?6 c
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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。)6 U$ W3 H$ ^" R+ H
# {8 L. o% @, f& L, z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。 % R/ ^- n- d( w 7 Y( U% s; x0 L$ H/ q8 O$ L5 W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: ' c: o d2 G/ Z: T% v; C% G. \9 | p" p/ Q1 X0 Q
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; ' [ T; y1 H% C6 w1 ~- g" [, L0 d( ?, Q9 a
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; $ j. J; G( A# s. o1 @, B& A 9 H H- b: i/ d2 K d对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ! ^# o C/ N0 B3 c1 N: Q5 s# C/ @/ \3 A1 z$ n
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 3 E* ^% m7 U5 e! z3 s/ {/ W; m4 q4 n) s' o7 n' L) u8 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: 8 Z/ z8 K) c! [' P% ^ 9 [* I7 q2 P6 M8 S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)。7 V1 a2 v. B a* u4 q
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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)。 , M: r* D1 [8 o+ z2 t. B( B. @