9 t ^* }4 j: @3 D( }9 V例如:& O. D1 x% O1 U' H O
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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)3 W$ O* Z8 _- |9 t" {6 s2 W0 \/ l2 N
. G* b, R2 Y5 _6 M- P# g) T: xThree 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 X) m. t& R8 X& j- X # C* \' B5 | `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) 1 W0 m* r. n d0 f 6 F1 u0 o. z8 d0 `: s/ a* z Z) t& j" LThe 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?) B; H+ U( [0 @+ z6 w" c) |3 _5 w6 \: @2 Y. R8 R5 I
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。) 9 b4 _3 U& q* G9 c; } 8 e5 b3 `8 h8 I+ ^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) 5 n, E2 N, I- K y8 S. { + B* ?' d, S) d" }0 W5 XWe 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 L- s. N8 F8 W8 l5 h . ]; G g% G# k R3 bThe 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); Q8 M" C0 Q. b) C5 ^) t
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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。)+ }0 _% c9 ?: V" W7 h4 `
! J6 B; `- Q6 N7 C" {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?) I, M( p$ }; |' H O3 s3 o
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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! $ A* Q- _# f- u& q0 |2 Z. s8 s# V9 @" r+ {; l! j' s) E
4 }, p# Z! V0 a4 @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。- x% Q, _3 G+ }" U+ D0 J
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例如:& n+ N: L! p6 ^& D* c& O z
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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)9 }. m' w& S; x; F
- f2 l: s9 p% |9 j4 k- ~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)5 D. M. c" n* Q) e
% m& Q" S) Y! U3 C+ R4 n K: PI 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) : f! P3 k" f) b) S! ~ 5 K$ L) u$ f' w! W4 U. v8 [1 v h7 FHe 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) ; `, H5 X8 @0 E8 L* o' g% f3 |3 j8 s2 H# e3 _2 c6 U# W
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)+ s6 |; m/ N ?1 {. j% _0 Q3 A# M
8 h+ l0 B$ I) _+ d* q dShe 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) " P/ U* b/ O Z . J7 {8 H8 j% }* g2 T# wI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) \5 j8 I% v+ v 2 O0 a/ }8 Z& H9 |. L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:9 O% o1 \ X. m7 e* E8 m, |1 r3 ?7 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。)3 Q$ ]* B/ ~" Z% L. ?
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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.)0 l& k2 _/ K, ]$ s% Z9 O
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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。) 4 Y/ Y4 x$ K* E# f9 s- D/ `" j' x- N 1 [6 Z+ K) |, G9 b" nHe 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) 7 m+ r; `' I3 i" ~ - {0 ]" v- r9 IWe 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) : b, @/ z- U+ {! c5 b / H7 ?0 g3 J# ?4 R! [! F* Q9 T pEnclosed (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) . _, N4 B) \% g j3 X8 I# o% D 2 n: L" W. O: }8 s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( g7 b6 T: c2 ^+ i 6 G8 `% L. ^2 l+ q9 p9 b+ q9 U$ z此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 7 I2 E) m$ r9 J4 |, E2 G+ o8 C8 g0 G# _% G6 y: ]
2 v* ~2 n S4 b/ ?" T" }: W3.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」。* _; Y3 h. j" t2 ~
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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)' t* p+ E8 }) J
: E* Y+ ^2 o% B9 ~. bManpower 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)9 u$ A% O7 Y0 v: h' x
/ E) h/ J! e5 H4 `% y7 k! \: pThis 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) - q) s$ h- ~3 c: T8 {. m - u% a! W2 S& L* l- I1 A. d4 VHe (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。) . V. h X" ^1 P5 {# n5 [: x( S7 A1 O* t: u) W& a9 W
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。) & o8 g F3 Y2 `" u- d6 A" y# X1 ], _7 P! p
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)+ F, ~% B; r1 h0 [7 ^
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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) 0 b2 W# D; T( Z. @5 b1 _/ \+ J( ^" }% O" _5 P
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。)) M$ [ f, k4 q% ]' N
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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。 - U1 q, W8 Z5 V: q% x6 j 0 g. M( v$ L& v- 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:: r' {3 L5 H5 V+ i* ~7 C v
! Z9 h/ t1 t% d: E9 c' M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;: a4 T' e) W& `/ J0 y- p" }% l
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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; 6 V' \& y3 ?" s* w! v6 V' D2 n " E* L, t, _& u对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 3 D1 x$ o o$ t% F" `% p1 \8 x; B" Q7 d" N9 r- Y
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; - M" D! K- D w; Q9 L' E, y2 T + {3 o- {$ c# D, g2 P# T* ]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: . K; J* a% @1 o* Z" n6 I4 d% `: o5 J' C' ?: H" k0 ~
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)。 4 W9 P# A+ Y6 x , f* X. |+ _# e$ c% m( U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)。 . |* ^! J6 o3 X- W: ? s