* d# A. G+ k! \& R& T2 T7 [例如: 7 k9 V; \/ @3 W4 s1 E% U( ]( @. [4 R6 x# s
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)" |; B F" Y4 ]- H
8 b, h1 `9 X& q+ v2 w xThree 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。) - X. w4 o6 Z& S8 f R7 {) d, Q' U8 c3 F \
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 d! }3 W2 M( d# V7 j, I% A% @' F0 ]7 a/ S; s* M4 ~
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?)# ^5 {* L% `( N9 f0 w
, X7 V0 l+ f9 j3 yI 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。) 2 S; S. D, w: Y: s( o: R 7 |& Z1 P, C# Y& }/ h2 S4 C. g3 IMr. 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) 1 M8 u+ W; U$ h, v( U( \5 t* ^. d: l9 t1 {. s4 p1 ?
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!) $ {0 Q+ s% @8 n" E/ a* ^( B& Z( g) N3 h
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)! f/ Z. B, _- a
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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。) 2 Y1 R* [" ?) i; M: e% G4 V & _* s _$ n* b2 `/ tPlease 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?)$ I9 W/ ]5 {6 G: q" g, H
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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!: J ?7 K6 A& \0 r1 N9 u* c' X6 d
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' x9 b+ h3 {5 c+ u" R' s 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。! }5 M/ Y0 A/ i
: o7 @6 T0 r& c% F例如:# M3 T2 p* T2 L; J# G7 E" t: S* ` W
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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) ( F* P/ w* B1 G+ p" @. L8 f3 b % ] Q. l, `" B1 A4 f; r' c# BDespite 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) 0 n: |% _6 K: J3 {7 _ ]- x- ~: w& E. J6 Y2 r9 tI 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)6 X @" D, p( _" f. y
" |: K G/ a3 P$ l/ [' tHe 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)% | n2 `5 I2 p5 x$ K5 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)" N9 ?2 n1 }7 j, A; w6 j Y3 s
) z0 k0 s( ?% j+ GShe 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)2 L( y ]- _. j& Y9 _
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)5 M& Z' V, |" H H8 ?1 {7 t
9 } i! H; X3 J5 L# S3 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: ( K7 G& e3 Q! G$ G1 k & [% H: L. l& V! wThe 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。) , a u2 E6 t/ ? Q/ G" b0 V y3 R) Z! c B% Z
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.) . I6 }; t. a5 w$ C8 ], E- C" e 3 s& h! x: w2 c: sHe 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。): |" j, p1 ~+ | w- f
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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)8 L$ _/ o* ^3 O3 y6 m* B, ~
k" E; q9 L" V+ [; k/ TWe 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)5 w. u: y6 |! j8 J _% X
! L. a; d Z9 DEnclosed (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) $ D& p# z& d7 j8 g* v# O , [/ Y* Z8 }4 k( d. k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.) & Z+ A! U# I$ \; W # [- J& {& s2 k此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 " V& R( O; B8 |' T! V y7 i% d$ A" ]; m8 b
7 ^/ v5 a3 V! B9 o/ j9 B 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」。 3 T1 D x: P' V- u' L$ r& T' n4 Y, B1 |( W' p) G
例如: / g8 ?! O! ]# E0 ^4 T! [4 v$ I 0 p% H8 _, c! rMankind 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 S$ x: B; H! N ]
3 n, y! s5 r g! k$ p) L: \0 q* pManpower 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), v- e' e t j8 F* q
: L$ O+ u! V* sThis 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)7 q$ m3 p6 C3 w0 M
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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。) [: B1 [9 E' ^ 7 V- e0 W5 n1 X7 }( h1 I1 m+ aMany 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 Z0 u5 o$ Z7 P ^6 m
+ t! l" w8 I- v" N% e- {+ X Z- `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)# Y X9 Q5 X2 D7 F$ ~! J2 M5 O2 ]
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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)+ ~& D0 K e- N2 e
+ _1 I6 x& ]3 ?: b8 PStewardesses 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。)& z0 t$ O1 f, T/ u8 c
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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。 2 [: v) S# F2 b 0 ^' j. d% j* i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:" K2 L7 ~- A/ Q1 d
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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; & r: x+ `- L* ^4 x4 } 0 y+ M+ }4 B E$ T, x! |+ l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 C# M7 t* |. f% g P1 Q0 ~- i6 ]" n# w t( u1 s' O" ~6 U. X
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ) d x2 v( l8 A : N' y( Z/ {6 m R对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;6 e( A1 ~( `* H. |( k. G
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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:1 K2 c2 _5 }4 a7 y! T5 C0 S
3 y) Z' L6 R& A# E( m9 h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)。: Z5 S l% ^. {$ F
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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)。% }2 c6 P( }* R& D8 S' l