( p9 [$ R; R4 ~% |+ x. wMany 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) + O, P! H6 R2 x8 a' y5 D 1 X, q- Y. H' b0 T0 JThree 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。) + q: U$ `0 u; R+ G7 G( R$ k4 |2 ?, J5 Z6 U/ u
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) 2 V7 [, M Y) ?4 G& L% ^# J5 k7 X; l9 {. X* @4 a+ M+ n
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?)- }. E7 j& x! n+ e
2 `* l' f: L( [4 g% t8 @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。) # c0 B; I4 z4 f- [2 V . @, _; ?8 c3 x0 G/ [; ^" ]$ 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) 2 _0 n' p* O& x4 ~* {; r$ F . c* I! ?& q T9 ] V9 T" WWe 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!) Q& v9 x+ ^* O2 W+ x$ @, O, C9 R$ h4 G6 J3 K6 A" N
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) ]/ r0 u# U' F 8 k3 y5 X$ O9 A8 ]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。)1 w; J' M) H6 C# \
& U* Z5 P# h% q% f/ _: @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?) 7 ~! S: q, a* Q( Z' v7 D* b2 x6 f* m6 p+ q9 J4 j) Z
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' i: G: u7 A, a3 S
8 F, @- Z( S! c- M' a; J) [2 C, Y. ?) K1 A; n( H$ P1 {; S, C 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。, o! X6 ~; o# S: i& {
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例如:3 q+ M `/ x* a0 i# @' r
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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)4 Z3 ^* A. w+ R) Y: U* p
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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): g) G" M5 h5 [8 D; P8 Y& z+ _* ?
2 X3 i, f! Z, Y0 _9 r4 @( H5 Q }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) * j* B4 S R/ q. ^) c' T& Q& f : W* U0 b- u [. X! k) S: n) GHe 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)/ }- b1 O* @: F- J; N
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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) 0 e6 Z' o% Z# T. a6 \) S6 q. [# a: J5 _0 c9 E1 R
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) 8 w" i2 c/ |3 \" D * }1 `# n: {7 V5 lI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)* o5 \3 _6 j* y. O, d
# C" E$ ~: h, o- {* Q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: " p7 N4 i/ F6 e ' Y! S1 M! g5 `; Z& o, o$ ?. }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。) 0 z8 \; e7 s. L' d+ H( K, J( L7 R, ~( P0 ^
The 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.)" B5 z f z& s
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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。)4 |5 V" i; P. a& n
( w$ `3 B# d$ S& ]' n; ~, Y# `5 I0 ]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)! F3 E4 a j' `& p+ 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) s. n' l. U8 F8 N+ V8 a
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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). u" @+ E/ B7 ]: C5 h( B2 _
- a$ H( R6 C& \% N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! p0 l6 L O9 i. L
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。' Q' {. [, q, S" \* T. T* c
, D) |) n9 e+ p5 c r( p' \. m } 3 S% S1 i' J! n0 r6 q3.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」。 / T" j+ ^7 Z' D0 p8 W2 c + Y" S4 y7 _* y& t* K8 u例如: , _( t9 l7 e( h) a* }& E: Y$ m D& [4 }! H
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)% d/ G7 Q8 Y) K4 r: ^3 Q0 s
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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) b' S# @+ W8 F* F
0 O t5 C# x4 V( R% qThis 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) / L3 H7 O, J H. w7 U5 t! R % N/ S% I' m8 n, _8 j* zHe (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 o! a' R9 J9 R# f 6 Q; w% t! j) |; SMany 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。)+ E$ e7 ?* g4 k1 C" }
% W( e; i/ g% tPolicemen (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) 5 P# @" ?2 k8 T" R4 |$ a/ I / N5 s u: A% m- qCongressmen (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) , b% [3 j! O6 Z+ Y( L8 a4 u Q; q: d) W3 R
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。)0 k+ G+ W( Z1 M3 A& W
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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。 ' x6 }+ T! q" d. R/ u5 N* O" T* T* T4 P4 \% s% B3 g |# E
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:- F+ s+ \$ [$ S0 B5 \" V
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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;9 e& F8 x! {: s( v4 g5 ?, o
# u. K1 }1 `+ y2 x/ 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; 4 Q+ {6 N0 r" _% n+ U5 r) @1 X P" H; y( s- s
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; _9 ?5 w ^$ r" Y, g" \( u3 }& A
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; / u6 w0 ^5 L9 S - | k* m: n+ n/ _: X! J; J6 r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: " F" q3 R+ I) p2 p5 Y' ~8 E5 U6 f- b [* h: E. l; \1 K; f Y
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)。 + M3 q+ J: \7 O* l- w2 F/ p' m 8 J( l( K* I& C0 W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)。 1 L8 G3 P& v9 _: ?4 P