J: p8 u* n% e6 lMany 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) ) z& i( v; ?( x 6 ]& G/ v4 Y, |4 r* a$ u5 _, 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。)" d9 p$ j! O: F
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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) " Y! ^7 ]- Z& x, M, g8 c0 t7 q# S2 C% O8 j
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?)3 i) R7 v' t% _3 W( {+ K4 C& p
1 {) w6 a9 [# z9 N9 o6 k+ QI 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。) * b9 F* D9 g m& d+ P3 u9 J 6 {) J' i6 p2 @( M& VMr. 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) # e" l; C! S7 j& o4 g7 q1 H7 J; `: a5 H5 D: T: c( {3 W
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!)" G4 E$ O0 q# J# F" c
! Y4 G, z1 X1 B4 O6 x1 ?! NThe 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)' P, G3 ^6 g k D; n& G
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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。) $ ~0 O; x, j0 ]( _' L1 `/ {/ b# j% ~ 6 V8 X+ R; j; T" WPlease 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?) & }. c7 b3 _) H: x 3 H9 `5 Q x8 X. @ h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! * U7 z/ U! ]( \3 q7 T0 a7 Y/ i; A. U% u8 ` % ?8 V/ ~ F ^ \ 4 P) w1 Z5 y2 s Q @8 N) A2. 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。6 V" T7 h- P6 k
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例如:8 b1 L% {' F; \5 X
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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)1 ~9 t; c5 z) O: @
- F4 }: [! U9 s6 C! T; y7 J" IDespite 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)6 `& E7 h' S! @" D3 T
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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). _ }: e; N4 f( |
' M# S0 ?" U/ A% ]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) / e, r( i7 E! V$ Q* X6 m t9 M4 m C! U: W5 d( J. T% Y2 @2 g
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) * g4 y8 N% w* w, b 1 j/ A0 ~1 f) v- \$ P' @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)* Z1 O4 ~2 Q7 }* s/ ?
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ; Q1 ? c) R( _$ V ' k2 `% W# m9 I+ Z `6 t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:4 T9 e8 I- \ w: r
: q7 Y) z( L, ] ~: b" p" ?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。)/ }. x( w3 \: g* m6 g& b# a; j
5 j8 i5 W4 H+ W9 ?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.) 6 d' R/ x$ z1 U* ~" u& k # }# K: D- x- K) gHe 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- q' C e0 K: x
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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) ) ?4 b, K" S& V! _; J6 L* V, c: m3 j9 {7 z
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)$ ^0 ?! f( w' l8 U9 U
. ]& F1 ]) d; B" Z! H2 hEnclosed (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 k k$ k, J* z7 j4 e/ R
+ D9 m U k& z" ^3 a" H3 u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.) ; I1 h/ E5 `+ w( c) C% R) T F `, X) ] g
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。- I+ j3 d/ P7 w% d( t# f- v; t
, x# [2 C2 M5 S V' a7 R; p6 h' l 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」。 `$ \4 S3 e, S3 g
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例如: , n. x% q' S1 z/ L$ \- V 7 r, V! A9 o7 P& Y: A3 E8 D+ JMankind 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) : s! P8 Q; z7 l; W8 i2 ~# X$ M" h. r9 k3 m2 a3 Q
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 W/ @/ f; B) r/ [6 f
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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)" b$ n3 d, @, M$ m% r4 F
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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。) $ B" i; h6 G: E0 Y. x5 D1 r# m% H1 ?. h2 `+ t
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。) / E/ e, |/ t6 G . F7 b& {6 w; ?, N4 rPolicemen (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) 0 T3 r" y9 g0 }( u0 Q$ O9 f, P. R+ u6 Y
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) & V3 G; Y8 I0 k- B; Q- u7 T2 P+ w; F% g1 m- W
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。) : W7 Y' @" q$ Y/ e7 A 8 J8 W& s$ o* t+ _% w6 X. a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。 % R0 M% p% y. i; r. |( R- X; B! k# Z: i0 j! G
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: 7 \2 l! j6 A9 a' J8 V( ^" C1 `- @0 C# ]2 l/ |3 u* ~. N
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;1 [# c' R/ S5 p B( O
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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; : Q1 F9 K5 D2 L' [' k# Z- L* `) }; A: b. r0 J
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;) V4 l4 _: Z+ a$ b1 X( ?% M
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;- U# V# x) s7 _1 Y" \5 @
& B9 F+ `3 l* V" w- q+ l9 }! T8 z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: 7 R$ D' G0 h$ v% f1 T ; t) ^0 F7 `7 O( x/ N! y4 D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)。 * r1 f1 ?* [5 Q: B( `0 `$ J ; h# w) i. B0 i- r( F- u0 y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)。 7 p5 a* c; p: D3 s