$ j, b4 Q$ n. G1 z6 O" ?1 c+ ^例如:3 T* t* P% ?/ q* y& W- ^' w. C
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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)( w1 c- i, `$ [
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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。) # {% a' ]/ q% F, ]' q7 y, O/ W2 s' Q) h0 t4 r( ]4 Y5 Q- _
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): m" g* d! E4 d8 v) P
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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?) ) \0 b5 C9 _# k0 W4 U) ]) Y ' y) ?* o Y8 ` S u5 wI 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。) / c+ u" i- `2 c, C2 M9 \3 o; @: K6 b5 ]& Q) @+ ?
Mr. 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)- j( Q: T$ t& s% Z; {: [3 E
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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!)9 [9 c* [( E$ u0 \; f5 g U# E
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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)( W+ D$ M% \7 t1 i/ X
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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。)4 b- @# A% n. Q6 _: j. e
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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?) 2 I9 P! _; i( F- A3 |) H" }+ T" Y) K/ _1 H3 i9 p* u4 A
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! 5 A5 O" L, C) s- r9 i$ x9 W; N- g6 u' g
4 w6 D }& j; |% S. D$ V 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。; `* z9 m! g |% b% h- F
6 A/ z1 _1 L9 o- d1 H例如: # D# K! h, c% j4 Y0 P- I + m3 u; R2 O0 aAt 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 o+ ~" ?, h9 ~4 |& G- Z$ m$ R * ], f& ?, A. u' b/ j( f$ P0 q1 eDespite 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)! v& N5 a7 G$ T! ], Y" l, |3 _8 g
" _2 q" \6 }7 |0 x" r& GI 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) + l6 j @' o4 d( T7 C c; I , q/ `# ]& W9 ?8 l/ oHe 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)# `3 H. a) G# u* }+ x
2 S; D% q2 x. SIn 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. g- \: Z, _3 A1 e
0 p$ S$ o: j/ ?4 `/ |( w1 m& lShe 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 U! c3 L4 q% Z % ^, c; O. X; i: w0 dI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) & t1 I' |9 G2 l6 C* c( C! s7 @+ g5 } Y5 Y2 R* \9 J' g, ~
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: k+ E% @# b4 _# e
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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。) * u& w0 O3 q6 w/ O/ O; g5 z: n4 I 7 \( d4 c0 `2 T p2 ]# y: uThe letter shows that the problem(continues to)remain unsolved.(他的信显示问题尚未解决)(continue to 是多余的字,因为 remain 已经有 continue 的含意。所以句子就成为:The letter shows that the problem remains unsolved.)# ?% a" |1 J0 X* S& `- ?
% G2 D X: u9 x2 [8 T2 e9 n2 IHe has made his (final) conclusion in his speech.(他在演说里做出结论) (final 是多余的字,因为 conclusion 已经含有 final 的意思。). u7 e# U4 a7 p' i
6 E$ P3 R( k# C; b& h3 |9 IHe has had many years of (actual) experience in business。(他有多年经商的经验) (actual 也是多余的字,因为 experience 已有 actual 的意味)6 ~/ x6 J7 B' G5 d5 a# w
1 C$ x$ ~" F! g; h3 R2 X. E8 _. SWe assembled (together) all the parts for our radio.(我们装好收音机的零件)(因为 assemble 本身就有 together 的意思,所以 together 是多余的) 8 _' B& V7 g# M& d9 T 7 n: m2 ]& p: }7 @1 ^9 a& G, M/ b; j( `Enclosed (herewith ) please find the report of the meeting.(herewith 是多余的字,因为 enclosed 就有 herewith 的意思)(即:附上会议报告,请查收) ' H& ?6 p8 W2 L0 n6 U 7 ]" D7 C" A6 E; ~写到这里,想起一位深受美国人民爱戴,一向主张不写长句、不噜苏的美国已故参议员 Stephen Young,他每次受邀参加会议、演讲、宴会时,他的回信只有三个字「我会到」(I'll be there)......。也有人打趣的说:「讲演或写作的句子,就像穿迷你裙,愈短愈好。」(Like wearing mini-skirt, sentences in speech or writing should be the shorter, the better.)' L- x: _* M9 y4 D# V+ B1 e$ V
! R/ c; x, _3 k0 K/ o此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 8 z8 }+ P9 c! a; W* s. f4 p" z& {: y6 \) p
1 J3 J8 |9 H; O" C' z3 k 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」。# H% G3 e' H) K4 K/ U% `8 V) U. T
. I, p. q. G8 N& W3 ]+ \# mMankind 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)$ J) U* B9 m5 J2 X; i
# ~0 k+ B# W' ^6 N8 t5 _9 jManpower 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). y# u- [6 F: \8 q9 \$ F
7 i" K2 |$ B d. }5 R7 bThis 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)( f8 X/ K) L/ ?' U) _: C' {% 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。)6 R7 z5 X( _1 T) A0 p2 g( q
T* M' u2 ^- a$ iMany 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。) # z# X- H, \, W& K7 w, a, `/ b0 w5 U1 F* l6 F) Y: b4 r
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) ( U" D2 ^' z7 s, R$ u# j. s% T6 i+ _# q+ l( J4 y6 |* T; 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)& c& I4 _, z% V* `! c! c8 o
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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。) , [8 x. b: \ T/ S0 B ]2 J2 t, X' A T
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。 0 U9 D2 }' W; ?* f9 y $ d4 b5 M, i; F1 p- p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:& e- a, y! R! Y& }& L/ n
- J8 O* |4 W7 z& z f$ P! `0 T2 ?. H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 Q* ?- B0 p+ Y$ ]7 J8 U3 Q
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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; $ S @$ L0 H+ |2 ^, L* W- T. y3 p# M& c6 l
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;: e; y9 X, l' h6 {
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;! l5 E1 N4 ` K7 o" l+ s* Z
9 p9 o( u b2 J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:% R+ L( r. p& m' P; T' a: s' I
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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)。" B/ H9 c) o U6 s0 W0 [" c
. I& Z2 w$ b% h; v6 T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)。 + N9 G! j/ d2 y: K1 Y