0 ?* k( y I7 S1 l7 DMany 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) : C- }% [( t0 h* A% i- j" K) g: I5 o% U$ z' B# l
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。) & L6 |4 V1 e$ ^! i) g+ \ 1 w/ {9 E- D9 DThis 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) $ A9 l& \% ` K! R$ f; D) r5 ^ ( G$ U: \2 K( ]1 P/ ~; o0 D5 yThe 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?)* O5 t% W4 V7 ~& j5 `% h {( o
. y# j* R. H% AI 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。) ! Z7 {3 e0 P+ e; i # P- D r6 q; q0 B& y+ c( h$ }! DMr. 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) . w9 B. M+ f; [! c) I' [% g6 s- v8 |& g( H$ U. f
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!)+ _6 z6 [; X s7 d6 D# S
7 l9 u z/ X1 }, `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) 3 e; o4 B% I# c* |+ H $ K' C5 \$ y# O' xWe 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。)& Z5 }& Q* I) _( Y: J
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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?)% e+ M+ g$ y. N* N0 Z
# M1 |, x( C+ x, t/ W) `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!& h- b5 b' k; t- x2 J7 W& Q% o) `
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5 W3 n& p0 a. ^* g$ d7 Q6 i2. 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。! V% k5 `* n& d; v) I* J
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例如: ; `. V+ u8 f2 Z5 a+ m8 ?! [ * m4 r$ c J( w {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)7 ?( K5 E; W; ^3 ^5 o3 ]
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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) 3 _. S7 b. I' w: U& V2 J, w. Q6 I$ c' O+ L
I 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) 8 u5 C- Q+ i' y1 C2 n6 ~( A , E2 S A( c3 _6 n, gHe 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) ! Y- b: o7 J8 E6 i8 K9 g. g- u6 o- x. v4 M2 a3 T! ^% Q% Q. d; `
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) j+ n5 B) S! b D* W8 S6 j2 u- Q: ?5 o7 `
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) ' o6 U4 z' f# _ 2 q* M1 J- T- r3 H% L7 gI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)8 Z7 L' A, A7 R
9 J. Z& V! X) a0 V5 {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: ) m+ g& ?, j2 ^4 m7 l: H' T8 ]5 q6 F" O/ A- V
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。)- v* x- B8 \& ]- I
# e6 E) B" d( e( a% \+ ?0 Y+ mThe 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.) T7 b5 D" e+ A! W, w3 D, T
4 ^9 ]# a. T7 ?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。) * N* \9 q* f* r0 q- A, i% M, e 8 s( t: X1 @$ k) Q% l2 b5 g5 v6 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) 7 v+ W' n/ \/ G 0 _ y& g+ w- J# a d3 DWe 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) " r) W& H0 @) w1 X9 S 3 ~8 _0 g3 D: t$ F5 W7 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)8 r8 N- A% }, ~- R6 V* @! D
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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.), e- m: v- r! H7 l- G ]3 r2 p9 f3 s, `
/ J- m% Y& X+ w* g- Z此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。1 G6 o# V9 N$ H" p
- \% t2 k4 t: m$ r7 ^; W4 W5 q- V% ^! @1 }2 |: B: |1 N 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」。 - U+ l. m3 y8 }2 T8 v6 E2 W+ m, B 7 d4 J+ p- K5 S5 D例如: 3 x7 {% m+ V, s& M1 G% Z. g- w9 t# r3 P4 ]: P, J, N
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) 3 G# q+ M8 n4 E7 C! D1 i0 s2 z; b2 x* z0 x
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)) x: o+ |( r+ K: e
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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) & r" |+ [2 b9 ?* B2 k ! C8 E: O: l$ v" _- L9 W+ kHe (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。) 8 U1 b' [! w& ?1 C( y% c : e3 q7 d# {/ A- F/ Q; IMany 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。) , b, \7 d- y- B ' m8 n5 {) Q, m# i& EPolicemen (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)+ o" J' g T# x2 Y0 o
8 N F9 e3 S& b7 V3 yCongressmen (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) 3 v/ a& ^: Q ]" ^! w 9 h. K5 S( E2 O& l) T# E# D7 vStewardesses 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。)9 ~- Q" j \: l) X( D# i
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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。 5 g! o1 U% |$ _" {8 [2 {& @# e' @0 b+ ]0 k
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:4 e4 i3 b/ v3 Z1 C$ [+ g7 v, m
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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;1 L r" K1 N/ @" T9 F
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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;: \8 Y5 b7 g# O; \2 p
4 c% b- `. U' @4 e对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; $ K( o O! q9 y& l5 t1 S 6 b$ }5 M. M- p5 E2 I& ^% ]& u对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 3 Z/ Y6 O6 t+ N) ^+ B) b1 V U$ B T& u
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: 8 j0 Z& o0 ~4 A2 y( b) e$ R$ F: R/ P: w/ P
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)。) X; N7 C8 w6 g! y
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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)。% o3 D$ t1 n0 |; ~2 I1 B u) y