) O! a* \: f" WMany 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) + P" M0 n4 A3 ^4 ^! W # L. F' R$ E$ @% o0 w5 r4 HThree 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。) + U1 ~) H/ h1 E- l 2 \' z+ }" a. O6 B4 A+ hThis 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)+ E: ?2 s$ p1 E
O; H+ J5 K+ k6 L/ v# B8 RThe 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?) * ?" z9 S8 i/ \* V0 B- N m1 P$ I/ c$ W' l# q2 M5 p$ R+ y
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。)* x7 Z* [6 x) q. S
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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)! P4 n( I$ F9 @1 i/ F( p' H5 c
( B+ u" C$ x6 n+ Q( 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!) $ [3 u# \+ a. O! `% y4 i E* E% [# q9 k6 \. tThe 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)+ r6 O; [5 s, U6 A& M ^
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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。) C+ h* s; V6 x* L8 D
: w) N* a3 T- H% n0 dPlease 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?) + h5 l1 [ o0 C& a/ d: B, U# i3 d9 h! |6 l$ W9 \
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! 4 J4 x& l% t9 g. P! r% g 4 E4 B* V/ f7 I( J ~( [7 \; V: q" m+ M3 r/ l7 Y) d) X 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。' Y# O: o$ A/ @$ _4 N) T: M
3 E! C6 x2 s8 T- w- R) Y例如: |9 N( l( W8 m. a; m+ a5 Q$ } . K2 E5 u; x+ n3 F YAt 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) D! M* P7 W! B$ K$ z$ Y1 F. ~: Y: n, [
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)! H* H% S. U3 o7 w% @. v
9 S6 w) Z, r1 R; P/ s: Z% rI 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) . Y6 n2 Y3 D0 d6 ?& t: i ! ~6 N8 a! D, x- s" MHe 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)4 @8 A0 N! u& Q; {* ~
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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 y' I: R( u3 }! `4 h% E
/ b+ o D" d4 O. c5 y4 pShe 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) ( v& N; J3 P2 W K; L/ U; {0 S/ J: Q6 F% p) D$ X2 X
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)! z+ D$ y5 _$ N: O" O: d. _( }" J
5 F. q* ^3 J# L3 p; N& Y6 P( C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:+ Y( B$ h: u% h5 L
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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 i6 V4 M( l; P. C9 m2 n
( t5 ~( v' o6 e1 Z* V4 ^6 pThe 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.)) b% ?/ q4 S) s1 z9 t: v. L& }2 q
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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。) / R7 p5 R, L: ]: C$ @# I9 I " ], i$ _' Q$ N& O. s" FHe 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) ; W& _8 t5 v1 \! q" s 1 a) w. }2 h' |8 v% NWe 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, |) g4 g' @. X8 g- ^" A$ @/ p
/ w! k7 c' h- S4 z4 M2 wEnclosed (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), ~; `+ Y( x% a0 f$ c
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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.) " F4 a5 @# w3 Q9 Z4 W ! F4 c. f. F4 x7 t此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 / p! M' V: P3 Q) A! P; K s . Z# ?5 I) B. ^" p" E! B7 r: V" w) F7 ?! N% B2 o c! ?! h 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」。& l8 ?/ v# M1 w4 i- m( P+ ] j# ]
! V% O2 u# U u0 d8 r5 K) c2 t5 z例如: 5 s7 y6 N: U; @$ i8 J% }9 g! V, N6 V) ^% \* T7 {7 A
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) 2 v+ [8 N# v/ [+ K0 X& r ! q% s) B' z+ Q+ \1 k; 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) * r- ^0 y( \5 R4 y8 w1 c1 \; k2 r 3 q; s/ P4 [% h- Y+ I+ 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) 6 F) ?7 T2 e, e% M4 y 5 q8 w1 w" K, r: I N! d& t q- BHe (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。)/ o' {" e6 R3 G% N6 R
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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。)* \4 f2 i* e1 x0 X, S* X! X9 a
$ ^; W# j8 O' g7 mPolicemen (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)6 V' H0 g6 o) {% @! R4 t, v
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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 ^2 J' W! ?6 R* f' U, ~- U9 l8 m- v6 G) W
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。) 8 S" H: n7 ]) d+ t* j! Z7 Y 5 k% b! S. _7 n) q; B2 Y _5 O3 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。* d2 A& q, Y# W& e* f
7 M2 \: ?6 S' t, |- z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:' m; Z) c( `/ G5 v
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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;6 v# G8 g, M% a. V+ y
D0 R+ v6 w% A- Z6 ~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; 5 K, I5 C1 }2 e4 h( m) s 1 e% d3 r' `# z$ ~对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;1 Z* J9 q/ y$ z0 i9 ]& a. I
+ I! }; {9 G g4 j0 d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 f5 Z0 @7 r1 B- q! ?1 @; T 1 }9 E7 k5 _1 E6 j5 ]7 N3 x; f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)。/ T) P& A$ C& A N+ v