$ H& U2 b2 u* m, T5 F6 x: c例如: , W6 P; N/ e' t* |2 V0 [ % k R1 u8 m% v/ q. CMany 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)# j: {! V. i; H# H& d2 U# Q9 H
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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。) / h' k6 ~ m6 ?4 y ; V+ Z3 ]7 e. n: e A g, oThis 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). x/ _, a$ L- ^' E4 ~. N
m5 y5 s! K) y. W4 y! W7 d$ @' hThe 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?)' J9 f) X' q! R' `$ Y
6 T f+ k2 j1 @6 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。)! n- Z( B% y: I4 N7 \: p
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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)( C! C4 m( a0 Z7 i; m' u, R( M
4 `, [: q0 O& K5 Q7 ZWe 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!): W' j. T$ T& o2 w( d
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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)8 _2 N* M" O1 V9 A! a
$ k7 \ k- s7 Z9 uWe 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。); s6 Y+ _0 g/ m* N% p% W
) e0 a* x6 d; B* ?6 c" A# N7 a6 u+ xPlease 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?)) T2 S; L+ j2 i7 W( D, [6 i
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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# Z1 a" t1 M1 \& c f7 _: h) Y* G5 H2 Q& `# m/ Q$ x
) @& S" l) n0 v, W2. 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。 L# T0 y' l9 m, D
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例如:" E8 C/ f* R$ f: d, T4 P5 }) 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)8 S7 _8 J7 y3 k; j+ D) i
' l6 P( x. S ]& @" nDespite 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 f8 }( I3 J, I( y5 C ! m; E& t! |- Y) g+ d' ^. w8 oI 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) ; H/ p; ]2 [8 g, N$ H8 _6 _- X/ T8 O( ^* M
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) " K5 V' Q& h- W/ p# s2 t" ]9 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)+ D( O" u$ W! d) B# U
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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) - D6 ^) i- ^; F, P- L7 }; C9 @ % Q+ @& S: H: ]7 t0 C3 L8 n1 o: xI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)3 F- ^" m" U" c
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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: 7 h/ A" e& T* F$ p |1 R " z0 n6 {- J7 B7 x# m8 |, l3 }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。) & b# e0 a) J$ A% z 2 M4 k% w- u0 g! F$ }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.) ' w# f" H( s+ z8 r+ Q4 M 6 V8 z R! d0 zHe 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。)) G3 {0 W0 p _) m" p4 Z; I9 y8 d
9 u& B& D W& UHe 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) 4 E+ n) U7 X6 s7 P! k5 i/ M) x# K
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)! G) F5 W3 C7 ^: Y" L
% w! E# [) a# V5 J" r( q8 iEnclosed (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)" b6 D1 T: n7 \, m7 ]
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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.) # Y: S* ^' w7 l/ g! o. m- b) ^3 J/ H$ V, |1 f8 A& z' F
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。+ \ D2 e1 p4 f& A5 {, P
% k9 q- g/ w0 p3 G8 _7 r4 a) u 0 ?) p3 J$ W+ { }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」。 * l, n8 ~0 j% A$ {# K. Q0 F5 Y: T ! [1 N0 r8 |, k$ L' t' d7 E例如:+ Y; `- O7 ^8 _; t6 _
2 s) j2 d5 a* O; O: [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, T( K& z$ X ' ]# H5 c+ R% P; \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) ! T# T$ T$ [# n$ b9 J+ t+ M0 s6 m- h4 }
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) # ]8 |: F; {# z% r. v ! B( P7 v( Z1 GHe (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。) " R0 ?5 f( \& n, `1 L / u6 O9 T9 ]+ F1 e9 M1 I. d/ m+ { u0 RMany 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。) 5 H- |8 b; g; k( \' Y/ p. x, @( R- Q7 F
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) / B0 }9 S# c- L: B$ A% o8 H0 F 0 e0 E% C P3 o9 ]# n$ x$ o kCongressmen (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) ( r, X8 |6 b8 Y) O; Q/ Q- K* N: P% z6 s
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。) : T' t8 a$ c4 m2 i. R5 A! r* a( N3 R9 V U
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。1 N q5 h! j- L+ M
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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 ]6 k$ M* i7 k- I% N% m 3 {7 f% V& \" w- l ]" w; t1 x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;% f0 O* N6 r: V2 q3 c9 r
J2 ~8 D$ q& p$ `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; 7 W! X$ `5 }% c( W" x * t W9 K2 p# g. e对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;4 d2 _' S# D) @+ x) Q
0 ~0 b3 [8 g! I" p$ k- H7 l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)。! F z8 A# a* _% O
: ]! g8 e) u* g! ~9 D: C9 K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)。 0 ~$ ~" `& K4 I1 S/ b/ c, K