$ V& U8 y, P2 C. a9 @( Y: u例如:5 O' {& }, ?8 @2 J8 ^* Z
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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)" `' i6 K# Z, {! T' _
2 \( x& ^3 O! P" [$ CThree 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。) ( c1 I9 h+ ^8 \5 d1 a + U2 {4 ^/ i1 z: lThis 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); u% I1 `0 K5 S2 [4 J
! c+ v( c3 T( DThe 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?) h: P2 M" W) b# h+ \& @# G
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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。)* \8 o8 _6 N6 C" N
, T2 ^/ c4 M! i' ?; m* 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)" T: [" X, X4 L& X8 O
" g( S7 P2 n) z L; ?% H. `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!) % D: w2 `$ K5 g7 e* y# \1 X8 Q8 W0 z# ?$ g# O! S2 d% B" C
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) 2 X$ V( M% s! ?- W8 B9 w . ]5 J: R0 B0 [( S/ I& [7 Y* KWe 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。) 3 [( O- J1 D1 p: k( L n: L$ q! m d. Z p
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?)5 r/ O# F" ?+ [$ C% `+ P* I
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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!* y/ `& L/ N, [0 Y* N7 B. O
, ?1 Q8 c+ ~ G/ O 8 E: X( L2 [5 j/ Q4 u1 r9 E2. 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。* G2 u0 W8 w0 R, q5 L
2 G# c `3 i0 H# b Z- c0 o例如: 8 t4 S/ L$ E( m* b) ]( ^0 @' Z! ]: b% ~
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) 6 y3 ?0 I H' }$ X9 Q, i! }+ [# N3 X p! |; V1 i! ?- F
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) ' l/ t" x/ U0 R, z) ]+ P 7 [5 Y# Q: D: {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), Z r3 x* {% e4 T' `
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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) 2 Q$ q1 E( j5 A. x5 i, z" _9 I8 G: P3 v( i0 L3 j4 r, o4 u/ T
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)8 w: f# |% S0 h) U1 [$ L6 H
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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 o* h" Q3 D- q1 _- D6 x% |* |! ` " Y0 |1 R! }0 wI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)( t* Y9 o$ C* d# }
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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:: D7 g2 {8 t! H6 Q! O0 t
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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。)7 Y ?! v$ u4 L0 k0 D
k! w" M# ^) I6 d; b; JThe 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.)- e- P; I( m7 O* J" r! \
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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。)' |# o* b. M: {6 I7 g0 p2 ?
/ P2 J1 ` m$ A/ E8 Z# EHe 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 t1 g: @. V# d$ N3 H& V
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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) * u- m; H5 b2 C1 v) W' v* C' ?' D, z9 }, R5 H
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)6 |& Z6 ?- A+ v* `
% R# C( c* r& X% e! y; c+ }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.)3 I7 Y: U5 M- m9 L
9 \) x# V# l; P4 _, q% Z% g6 j, Y此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。6 ]# E8 J4 I/ d% ], U
! o% G( b P0 y+ T8 H) B; B; h! k, M) A 8 l) T5 b4 J: u3.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」。 ; l- ?: Y! S# o, [, ^ 4 H: w# D8 i" d( T0 [6 N例如:/ g6 f& |" k$ a) u1 Y0 t3 j5 p
# ^5 N- K, k1 b% S2 z2 p; p; {4 N5 VMankind 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) : w6 e5 v. D4 U& z" E' }" ]& e# [4 P+ z* ?% X H0 S
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) 5 \) n" L7 P% O4 E7 p0 X; s: |7 J ! ~& o7 C* w# g* ]6 ~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) 3 c; K6 y+ Z6 m; q8 i& S t5 z" ]* { {* eHe (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。) - M( r; s8 Q. q- w$ s5 o9 ], X3 p6 N) U: d3 r' `
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。)4 D a, ^& H/ _
. P: U! E, M5 p, C; @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) 2 O" E6 x% I$ M4 ^4 M: P# r* w9 h8 @* W; \4 R0 j/ o
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): [, _! i& ~0 j" D% L% X
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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。). Z3 ~. }+ f) h) z
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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。1 k5 ]: N& W' P' O. `
8 q1 T O+ x6 ]: Z$ `8 R& K8 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:1 r; ?8 _# ], q
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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; 6 O! A9 ^, {$ w1 U# X( N; r7 r3 k% Y' X% B0 M* f+ L# J
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;8 c2 [, H N% O3 k3 S, [1 p2 _
7 o1 @4 V; W7 O& l2 n6 b; T9 W- h对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 4 g) d/ e+ ?% @# O' y- I 2 X) t, v7 {5 ?0 |对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 6 t, E; i( j$ |9 X+ g1 B 5 N2 B, A# d w/ ?* F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: 0 i) }' P) k, t, X/ E. j, h0 ?" k3 l 2 j8 A5 \0 y, V6 Y& O2 c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 r- h0 k: ~) c, w n @7 Q2 T, u. 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)。9 l( c- C+ L) w1 l4 z6 R# _# A; @