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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) 2 |% w3 K+ `( a% [4 |1 J5 X/ Q& z8 J6 l; y: ^# c8 t( |) Q
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。)( Z: d9 @- ?! X5 t2 p: Q; U
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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)! C. L2 O2 d5 \8 f
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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?) " A" T# B4 y; ^( l' Z6 k+ B+ g4 u3 q4 Y# D/ T
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。) C6 u/ u, k P& q4 }2 P, r7 t& _6 N( J% t2 U) G
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)% j8 _8 q' i5 Y* o7 J8 @5 `' `
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We 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!) ( d! ]( T6 a+ n' F- C % |! q, v+ W& @- h$ I0 qThe 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)* Y2 N4 ^7 u$ h, W8 v k
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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。)* h7 T3 ?) f; I; ^5 b- p9 H6 E
' x: b& {. c6 ~/ i) i6 MPlease 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?) 8 ^5 b2 G* ^! @) s' r 6 H1 A, K1 M6 p+ [, U+ Q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 @1 s a+ p' E7 G6 ]' ^
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! |- V! x, _ b, n2 V# x# k2. 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。 # T8 X3 n' F4 C! G' T% Y- _0 K& W# g
例如:# v) {2 u0 E( P
) a$ E2 d, g8 f: _: Q0 zAt 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) 6 ]2 ]1 w) S7 t+ \6 m" Q9 ^8 i; D! R3 i- S8 o% d
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) ! A! i" W0 T! R% A1 s 3 ?2 B0 k8 V9 [8 j8 B8 X) T$ Y. bI 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)/ b- H$ A0 A4 \
7 B2 m) B/ w( f" U' ?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! n; H' b! p! T5 u- Z
4 ]! b( a+ V; L/ L( u% NIn 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)! G5 k: }: i! q, e. G
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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) X2 u! `( a- h4 V 5 F' R5 v. D# QI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生). Z- Z& T' U" z) t$ Z6 P
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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:3 p1 Q& B+ N1 N8 H
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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 B r' o- z1 F5 ~2 X
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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.) - Z- K' c; v/ u5 Z5 |8 Q / ` k2 d. p! ?" o3 w b# H& m1 X* 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。): _( ]- Q# e: s
8 l5 E! b y2 g3 o2 y5 e) YHe 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). i: ^; Y# b0 M1 x
4 O* h2 H$ D' YWe 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)& \2 r/ D1 N; b! ]3 W4 G
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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) % o5 V4 v! S, h# d( r$ m) i% [ - L$ l/ M# A/ w5 N5 d. S0 X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.)5 h1 d6 h- {. e; b6 X
6 B' R: }- }5 G5 P$ F此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 $ M6 P, ?8 j3 u& _4 |" M6 p! m2 m) c5 n! t/ ^- v
: X4 B3 `+ I0 C% C; M$ }1 D8 TMankind 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) 7 M1 L1 z% M2 k! J0 l! L4 {* u ! x; X! e0 S4 i' j0 O, h0 Q) IManpower 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)5 t' ~2 @3 k N% w
6 Y; t" N2 [( r; o+ \) {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)6 b7 Y0 ? M9 Q p- M! H6 J8 g
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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。) 1 p0 D4 y' W( D. E 3 V& \( j, H9 PMany 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 o; k$ t8 g$ @3 \. ?. w
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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) U' C/ D: G$ g* e# ^" Z* q+ R2 {1 C x1 E
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)8 S) o2 U7 R) S3 [# h. D4 _
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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。) 8 y, }7 f& M9 j6 a0 |! p' [ : B( a$ k6 g- J2 E. d, q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。 ' u5 `, h. x* r" w9 T5 ?2 u3 ]7 N* |, m- j" X) A
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:# ~" a$ E9 E0 ^$ d. D, g
! }- S' l4 S/ a5 w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; 0 }- d j% v) l( B8 b$ i$ L2 i5 U
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; + y5 H; |' P9 o 2 S8 E( X$ \9 |; O对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;+ ^; k4 M" T7 Y! _- w7 W