5 N4 t, Q/ B/ o4 M例如: / [' K' K8 l4 _) O " Q/ ~+ G* U& d, z$ I( \6 jMany 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)2 I8 V6 q2 z& k H) a. s( l
- {5 Q; ^+ {, \/ C5 [# `- GThree 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。) * d& [& I* i4 T; C* \$ U0 F7 i 1 u' H3 p+ ]5 i0 f9 WThis 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)* F P. G, I* @, J
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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 N* V W. b2 z5 K9 G
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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。) + @5 B ?6 T0 v T * l0 P) L6 b' M8 f8 \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) 6 Z- ^+ i/ O. N) X a2 R 9 [0 F& X7 F" p g/ n# @& e) HWe 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!) 3 @7 W4 @7 w0 W7 j: a- l3 R1 o, `7 i2 C8 b: r" @4 _
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) & e; D% l7 F* ]' G& z0 I! k! A/ U7 c5 m, k0 ^
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。) + @) O+ x8 \9 k + c% i$ t5 `* \/ ?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?)+ b* q0 I1 m" {- \
! ^1 D! {! e( j4 L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!, ] y& N) a8 y7 V0 J0 }
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* j* Q! S" g" l8 n! V% H 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。, @8 p% F! i1 A4 ~
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例如:2 F8 A( u. N* j
2 y: z( `6 \. F' QAt 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)" X9 `2 N* s: I5 I& ]7 t, ^" D
0 D# f. A% K% d) L' }- |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) ?0 z6 X% E9 G8 F8 U/ c) ^7 C0 y9 X" {; P4 q' [0 M
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) 6 D$ o+ s. H6 Y" y4 }* p% {* W5 K: U* z/ J' f! M( Z6 x
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)& U& r9 b& l1 E* R1 F
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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)' ^# _: g0 g! G+ V! E1 S- F
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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) $ M7 K6 j6 j/ U# n! B8 d5 Z; O1 j7 ?* O2 L- J$ [
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)0 O2 V& b( G. K! c7 ^ s) N
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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: # y0 ~+ @( [, ]8 A: Z # W' Y Y, `$ J! W3 T6 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。) " f1 M$ j8 l% R# X4 _& D! l3 c' C# q' S, [ D% G! s# t# j
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.)+ J6 s+ T# t1 o0 B+ t- x
3 {: m9 d! A3 v9 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。)9 r2 m0 B1 u$ M' \" `( n
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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) * B+ Z. F3 v/ r0 z' T( J ) o0 z0 a: N& U- f; U# \9 i1 DWe 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) ( ?+ ]; J' Z4 f! P. p( b9 _9 r- o3 D! z7 I$ T
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) ^% u& c9 v* v0 Z
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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.) % j! y; l+ X# [+ i( Q7 o$ `* `! }+ `" z* N% h* S5 u0 E
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。. J; {5 N7 M4 Y2 W3 S
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2 k. D# A* P2 z. t例如: & Q+ n4 z) q: ?/ O1 r( t3 o% d! b Q: s$ ]1 s7 l5 ?( l
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) 6 S: [- ], f {. ~6 n$ W4 R6 a2 n- l M8 {( _
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); n; u; r7 x' t0 h3 ^( ~, m
8 C; r0 a$ E: w8 p9 [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)5 R: X; `0 ~+ h: j0 O
$ |! a, e% M5 B* @2 }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。) ; H; Y' ~+ t6 G. g b" k% z6 G , H- V1 O. m9 }$ v) _" Q; tMany 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。) 9 P. N( l8 Q5 K7 [6 I, f# |7 a* T& k' h) M8 u4 M
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) $ G6 e3 s) e+ }2 V/ ]& N; {* e: x: R( ]/ K. F
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)9 j: `! D, `! v6 O! A" [$ I
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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。)+ h! j0 L8 t3 D
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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。 / g5 F( }, `* A1 K9 ^' q- v3 ^ I4 m' y# n
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 R) c+ r$ y: C2 Q+ j# F
( M/ `0 b0 C$ R O. a4 O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;. ~" F W/ K6 e s
y) N' C, b! V' D* ~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; 1 ^/ L5 L, w, \+ e/ w0 [8 W" I: d; x0 H' r% P L
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;* B- y5 Y7 A7 C5 b6 _$ @/ u5 ? E
' A, E; E. \) G0 \) H5 ?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 O6 e. ~- p5 [, }