4 [: P% D7 n. j/ QMany 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) . r9 F" E* }6 P+ \+ L, N0 ]+ p4 I. b( W5 p- k: @8 g+ m+ p9 A ]+ u% E& x( ]
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。)* l% C3 f8 p: K# s
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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) ) a+ x6 a) Q; u k, [8 A3 @- U+ _9 S* u
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?)+ W% b' z) ?0 L3 e, \
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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 q! m& F! B- z/ G# ]2 L# F F) C1 d
/ |- @& M: u Q( |& CMr. 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): I' N. L5 t c( X* q: c
$ s5 u4 ^6 `0 X2 J0 F' e/ GWe 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 P: O2 G1 G! y2 K& e) V & L8 F# X& W) I; V# i2 w& D% w, pThe 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)& [: O$ }2 E r
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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。)1 j' B# L8 g* p1 e- I8 o
: q' b- F( w( U9 R' Q6 aPlease 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?) 1 ~% O+ e5 i( S' E 5 t# z7 [. x- ^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! * T t+ G- J$ ~6 o6 Q7 p9 G7 o/ }" [
7 g2 ~, L% x; h ^# I3 Z2. 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。1 ]- ]2 D7 a: }# 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) $ @( o" a. C; q6 ^, {' h- ?' u6 n. z- `5 s9 A0 z* N; E; a
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) . \+ s( C9 ~) v. P$ ^ 1 @ z8 n: k7 e" ?, d, ?$ C5 o4 }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) 3 z2 b- \) u& y& m4 C) R1 W. z' z0 U2 a9 Z+ ]4 {: ^9 H
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) ! ~, D% R3 \, N3 n) O+ S! x7 f% e% K: O7 ]2 {
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) # i3 f; x$ p b3 C0 X; w7 k; D1 L& ^: [, x+ A4 Y' Z" a: R: ?) s
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) - O7 y; b' w( p1 [; L( j9 R; U) _# {5 L, Z
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 7 a0 C7 s) }# G. { ' \+ |0 l# B( _! c: u8 a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: 6 o8 E ?' c6 W5 x) P* I & c4 C7 Q$ F cThe 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 b U2 |# C7 O- g
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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.) 1 z4 c5 g! P, `+ o/ X! _ 0 i2 I( @$ E. V3 X3 W" nHe 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。), [$ K& ?# [% s; n6 S' |
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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)0 L& A7 g; @/ C5 u6 |8 s$ A
; L# V: b- q. Z8 W) E# yWe 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)' {" e0 ~9 r6 |
/ G S' i2 Q! g: i7 TEnclosed (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. O( D3 _2 W5 i
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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.) # R J: M! [3 M- [* b . T) a# F/ o2 i9 _; M. T. j' ]: _此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 % N! u+ r+ n8 G) `" i% U8 x 6 c0 H/ y. f5 n5 g2 V: w1 c* K& T( k0 B. l# u$ N, ^ 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」。 - @5 _8 P* E) I5 p4 S x2 f: {& ]( U: m$ q
例如:+ u& a+ D+ k8 T* ^4 o2 G
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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)0 W' M* a& g9 q1 ~5 m
* n4 G8 L/ p+ O; gManpower 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) / a6 g/ W) H% o$ _% v # X6 ]' W, C9 hThis 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)+ H8 p9 a4 J' B s4 v
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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。) , Y% }+ t* Y2 h/ M" y/ w9 X" t+ M1 \; |! Z
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。)2 ^2 P) i! l C Y u
! Q" F) s! V# KCongressmen (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)! A! n" B' A' d. }% t
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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。)( L5 n! J# K$ @5 d# Q
* w& ?# A9 [. j( Z' w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。. n1 A. d# O$ Q
% H& d$ j& K. T0 P! n) V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: + f8 u$ w2 J; Z" z8 e7 {0 ~' V! G w& H9 i* G- y% ^
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;) b0 f& b: y W" G m3 m
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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; 4 e7 j; ?1 V: J4 r . w& Y& V5 b |4 [# _: C- C) b对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;9 ?; C0 P* I: C& j+ i
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 4 h. F! w) ?6 T- R, n7 M/ N* J& r5 @$ H3 n
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: 9 k8 A7 O* n! G3 z6 a, S# B- R8 O$ @& O1 ^+ ~ ]6 l$ h9 \7 n- 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)。 & m! L/ Z) x1 {3 q8 [3 q( m 6 C, q; N) l4 r5 a" W% K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)。4 v5 u$ j+ o' ?; ]0 \6 [