9 D* V, F+ ]+ \例如:* ]$ i, s' [& m. T4 E
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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)- K9 v; m2 |, H8 F: Y
# j+ ^ g2 m& b$ n% p' lThree 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。) ; {8 ` d3 G3 k) @7 Y8 z 3 r' e t) u/ S8 h, P: RThis 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), H1 N! z# G8 J K" m% K
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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?)# T) w A4 G3 |+ a# P7 O; K4 Z
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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。) & r- Y1 R1 E4 c" [* V4 W+ S x" L: a% u8 D7 ~5 i. z4 L$ A. _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)8 U- z/ j H3 [4 w4 H# D2 `$ p
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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!)7 S7 U7 D+ H& H* l4 D; y0 D. ?
4 Y7 ]# Y4 f8 _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) " r8 E! B6 Q3 k! V0 J# R4 h* R" Z5 a
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。)6 @1 Y- q4 y" p3 {+ D2 q
# G9 ~9 [# z) u0 M% v [8 fPlease 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?)" }! g" k# U K& g# w$ W
5 e8 b w5 w7 n. P: |! x- _. }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! $ y* _( |( n; A' O. Z! K4 a' `/ _, o! X9 q
/ U% B4 Q$ A) Q+ d P- N 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。, H$ I4 C. {) u5 ?
8 u7 Q! q" R$ N S u. `. `6 d例如: 7 P* R/ m. W: [" V Y* g $ e3 f' h5 b( A" v! F$ Q8 RAt 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) R/ S; |( V/ b, W1 J/ Y5 K
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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)& P$ k; i2 U( U0 i; b g
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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)/ H" {0 @1 p1 A1 d6 ]
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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) ( F' M9 V2 B9 E3 T* H0 I* M1 e( P: y! @! Z2 L9 ?1 t3 g! p
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' F3 P9 i" H: O: ^
6 ^5 s* y1 _ }- d( p+ ~ WShe 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) & }6 z7 A" K' j4 L' g9 N& `) q3 k# f1 R [8 t
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) " r$ p5 U' d- N& j) D6 Z* u% g9 }5 ? * U" j8 W" H& w. S1 M% Z+ U5 o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: " W& A& I+ G! f% M4 W 1 e1 m, f, L$ g* K5 p- l& j; }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。) % U$ Z% X6 b& N- N& p' A + c8 W7 b; m, F6 J, l& v. 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.) / U- `, S$ O; p9 o" i) A8 }/ N8 `+ ` Q6 F
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。)8 ^/ Z) y0 I* ~
* q6 f1 w2 N$ HHe 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) $ J) @$ Y4 I7 `2 {6 z * I- m8 f2 j: H; kWe 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) * W+ D3 ]" O! A$ \- Q # C0 G# e% C6 c; ^# C* m7 SEnclosed (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 f% f. ?* C) F$ j1 p1 Z
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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 I- C+ l# _# ` . u. X' j/ f& u7 e5 L. _此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 I7 Y+ F1 y" o# A' B; w7 o
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0 @1 @, B; C" b. i3.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」。 4 L$ o, Q1 p! S x- {9 p+ ^8 X+ w+ G$ X/ |" D
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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) $ ^& }5 r7 }! {5 w & ^( y$ I5 _! J2 SManpower 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): u; M2 a3 @9 G
+ r- t( v& g5 J% qThis 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) / k+ O, v) g ^' f& J* H$ |- {+ V 3 N% m0 n' y1 y+ `7 G1 S0 EHe (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。)2 b. ?" v c e
( r6 X2 M4 y% 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。) @" K6 e( ?; i+ z: b! H ; y4 C7 O# S5 E+ Y( v QPolicemen (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)$ [7 r9 ?/ S6 a1 Z8 M
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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)9 D2 r# e; _) V9 |# U5 \
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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。) 9 |6 G) e- `, T' X' y' N( |' q, @7 g
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。3 I/ K) T" k6 o# J
- l! T5 z, B/ z! Z+ P0 _: \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; . y0 L2 E+ S/ q3 M: n ) ]/ |, s$ a& W5 {9 O( l0 O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; " I3 i8 z3 g+ e( G1 p1 y; F3 Y7 V) l% m! D4 @! E6 S4 ?
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; - ^$ c" @ e. p" ~6 y& L 4 o9 q/ c, r! x6 V$ q% e对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;# w$ h% S7 Z8 y5 _8 o6 t( B
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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:# F& e* N6 [5 H4 |2 y w. g1 U/ Q) p
$ e' h. J5 u2 j3 _! v& T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)。/ j4 R6 w" {' L Y; R# {$ _
6 D7 t& Y, r, l# I5 ]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)。 , m7 }. S$ w% U5 h3 z) p