1 m+ G* T: e' B4 }例如: / _$ q! G# M5 b4 [! s, ^) O3 q9 v; ?: z9 B
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) 6 K' D& d; W! q$ S k& o x+ @: p8 i; e( j# e2 {
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。) 1 N5 ]8 C. k5 G) x9 g: |& [) X& K O$ ~. P3 M: 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)+ \- ?& t) M$ T5 x. v. y
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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?) ! ~8 ^ ?0 E/ }& W( @ 4 m! e7 C, h) U" k. R) GI 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。). E" t; [- {, D, ~# N, L9 x
6 F _, M5 s/ c9 q, P: tMr. 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 ]0 t- |# p9 a& ? {. }3 K
* w9 m z( t* ]' E9 [1 oWe 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!) + b1 }4 l: Y3 N4 }9 y 6 |: K/ i6 g! X% VThe 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) 5 J8 o, B9 `/ {- e* e& p! m) E' t7 r7 H! a7 b; a& y# ]; ^3 W
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 x0 j: x* h0 y: J2 {8 x" E& @( W) C, I3 V / g9 ]$ j9 Z0 N% N" e# GPlease 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?) / ^ O; c g& o! y7 k, j7 ~ ?4 X t; b X6 [1 s8 U7 `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! 3 f: W8 f V- @# L: C: Q6 b0 \- [
. |) p, ~4 ?$ a1 t$ j* k$ Q2. 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。 3 K: w- H8 }1 D9 s % b+ X' R1 S+ _& h9 Z例如:" a2 t& p; K# e& s: t
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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, g, ~1 m ?$ y: r " J' l" G( A( F8 M3 S" d. `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)3 r4 M4 C7 ^/ Q7 P3 e
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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)+ x8 u' I% F0 E" W- h
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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)# b2 }+ T, |" U: A# x# T+ g- p% O
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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)3 ^2 f9 n- F! j( F3 D
" S! [( I; o2 D! R u N6 jShe 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) 3 p3 n9 F) W5 q; Q# d2 e! d8 U2 V* u- G) _ G. s
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 1 |, `( C( C) Y- A# d% w: M) k& @7 ], K2 I/ p" b
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: 7 k9 R0 q4 X, C. h+ ?7 n% m4 u, K) }; k; ~
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。)8 [! b5 J) V" d7 t2 ]- }
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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.) " @6 I: ^7 y* P" ^, i! E3 V. f 8 B! N9 G# ]# ^; K0 M( 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。)' s& B4 d: O# z) R( p% Q( J$ B9 i
, J' |* l( S# ]+ [) LHe 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)3 b7 C# L$ g- r
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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) 3 Z. ?, k/ c* ~; ^2 X0 E; _ - T/ H9 D# M, j) Y2 a! cEnclosed (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): }4 ]4 `; q, Y1 c& r `; g# \
9 w5 b/ A" L* i9 U+ z% D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.) # W( ~; h) y: s E4 |8 k+ ~9 F( x& b6 T' w. r
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 4 A# f Y5 `) A- R3 v8 j& M; u4 J
/ [, l$ @ n: m7 C: N& 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」。 & X! ~4 c# ^+ Y/ K J2 m! S7 k% Q/ [" a
例如: & B3 H5 ~; C5 Q+ ~$ [8 @7 o! q; s5 n3 L8 d# o( U# c
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)) [7 e" A$ N6 n0 c) E
' f& U; x5 I+ s6 t% S0 tManpower 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) & k- a9 ?- M) T: Z8 `1 h1 {+ o/ f. M/ e$ M9 i6 k g: d7 f0 F' D
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) 6 v8 s5 u( b: K( n5 R" M+ i- G/ z) Z3 Q
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。) & e v L- o; F ; K7 c3 P3 B! d1 ?& 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。) # s u' k# p* Q. v5 } : T" f K1 D1 A, ~$ J9 u6 ?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) . M/ L1 A/ i6 f9 l7 E+ m6 M. w- v; C( Q! o
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) 4 T8 E1 O2 s' S* k # p0 _. l, `2 q( EStewardesses 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。)/ @ ]$ x) J4 D; ?
& v5 r6 t3 y" k- ?& M! f7 m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 |# Q7 H1 z% h8 M1 ` }1 P# }4 k( t" _$ V9 X* e/ c, k% o' 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:2 i; X$ ~0 O1 n3 p
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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; 7 L6 o" x( E2 o7 D* o- w7 \5 O6 v i9 N3 K' |1 g
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;% c: t/ t9 M$ [7 H" ?/ e6 \' M4 r' Y
g. C/ t; T* w% i- v: C对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; & I, E& b! j g$ O9 z; I/ M- y5 B ' M# H2 r. { ]! y; o; a" ^对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; % p8 F r- B4 X+ ^ {/ T0 \. J( L1 a# r- x7 u- [: A
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 V- w5 @5 H% G( V; @& I0 \1 {7 @
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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)。; l, _; F9 a+ h9 X9 J. g
. \) U$ K! |7 m' O1 r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)。. H/ N0 \! F K) U k