5 U$ ?) S" T$ g" c3 C# e5 N: a% PMany 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) ' F) S! b- `. H* X& d2 j v0 [2 M
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。) 6 |' i0 D+ S) e( `' o. J+ w" P8 B9 F) t+ W7 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)5 `$ ] _$ X; M4 P& z4 y
* |/ w% }; p; L% \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?) 6 v5 B$ r) f" ~9 M3 y# A 4 s( i9 m! L" [7 OI 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。) % y& G) l/ X8 u0 e, X " k7 R) a7 _5 GMr. 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)% |& M$ I' y& C% U2 @
/ C0 y" E& G5 a. M7 ?" cWe 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!)2 q1 G, w, P# \8 i/ ]
& f" ?8 b) M+ s V. Q+ uThe 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) 3 X: E2 q5 b( Y1 l0 E0 p: f' \' \ : S/ a! I- l l8 ^/ o# C/ J' CWe 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。) / g9 `8 p1 G/ ?9 J / Q7 ]' t+ j) \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?)+ j+ m. h& z) R, N) }0 h# M1 E
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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! , @) ? ]: o+ t7 u& w' ]( A1 ` $ G5 y/ A8 G! L1 ]+ t4 ^- ?( ?; y1 U9 [+ G7 M& p 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。 * `/ _# `4 `& `2 U6 ^' e ; ^( v ^$ y, [- C) B; P6 R例如: , f. {" a+ y- r' M: ]1 K ! N% J5 L0 m: l% ]4 K( nAt 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)0 Y& u- `9 w4 [. r' h
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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)! J$ F+ z) ]' I" u3 R: y! ~
H" F& k. i- i3 r1 s' k) R( [: yI 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) 2 q% y# k- m! O6 e$ v6 b2 O3 x" [! l; S+ J
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). T# ?4 ~: f. F- [6 R. 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)3 ?4 `7 G7 p X, ^. c' _
$ R1 ]- D5 ~- {* ^; c! H' oShe 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) 5 y! i1 m7 X% I" Z $ a" L( Y; o' `7 L2 FI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 9 p: e4 T' h. w0 y& l8 t 7 }6 n6 e* ]$ t5 |& ^) n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: - k8 T; \1 A# V7 S/ y4 |: h N; n' {& o9 R; K7 b
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。) . M8 n+ }# T8 N2 [7 C4 `; ?# I0 O * ?# S; T r0 _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.) % {& H+ L: a9 y' u& p8 u6 L! s/ S1 y# X- I; l
He 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。)2 A2 m) f; O5 V A$ c
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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) 1 Y R! d- N6 L( |; Z 2 I) { w+ A' \1 [# G) a# kWe 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) ' ?* o$ m4 r+ C4 e2 o$ r6 F! G# B6 o6 e" W) q8 P
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)' A% X" f5 g6 _' M6 m6 w
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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.) ! g4 ?9 }, C" O% F n5 F4 J. B$ k1 q- F4 G
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。; j8 ^2 ?6 q6 ~
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, y- Y% |. ?2 P: hMankind 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): t5 I- E2 ]1 k* {# A5 r
; H8 T4 y% V* ^7 o# a7 `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) 8 x. ?, U `, x( { m7 A7 r. V) A. a# k% n! r7 w6 l
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)( j9 V5 ^$ r0 Q
) q3 D0 H" ~! n; E# N; r0 EHe (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。) * m( D2 d8 R! r D+ x & Y2 K+ y* D1 c+ }" P$ T( ^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。) . f4 X6 J4 L' r; D a+ v9 H2 a8 e- i% q" e4 YPolicemen (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)0 E& \7 J* I2 ?$ _
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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)( i, z. R; g9 p! P4 j% M
( z! W A% i7 l) E$ c _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。)6 n2 `, Y' o* `9 I6 s) d" q3 x
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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。 " w- Q7 A5 W- r . N2 p- T: G" m9 k2 @5 ^4 E6 u# w/ t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:1 w& K( Y. h9 R4 c8 z, D& 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;9 }. K- T* M9 I/ G( l; O
6 `* F' u, d! u$ f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; 0 k: F9 z4 y: u4 V% u5 Z& c2 ?0 F' g
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;+ X3 `+ x4 {( w U2 ^ [
( v9 d+ Q) ^2 p( k8 f对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;+ \6 H/ ]8 k/ c- z# O# S/ ^$ K( B. Z
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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: , t7 Y' y- h/ t, c% G/ F1 Y& C- Q5 R9 e( M; @; l3 n
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)。5 f: `" L5 v, v- ^7 X- L
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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)。 6 R8 G* T6 C( h2 `) V, a& B