5 q3 R- G( N/ u! Z, e z' l% E例如:( G; N8 L. p/ \* K
8 V/ a! C. s- j8 Q- G: @5 X7 }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) ( C9 h, j9 I* {, f5 z9 `$ [$ J3 g$ K* Z1 ]
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。) 3 p- V% O1 k7 L; N$ b Y f" `* K$ B% t+ L6 T
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)3 k, X& ^. S B
# g( n% [( K" e0 I! A SThe 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?)0 G4 M; W5 D' _& Y
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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。)" m& X3 d, x3 N* W7 O
; {9 m2 S( ^) _; AMr. 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)# e% v7 _3 ]. Y& P
- H; Y+ R/ i4 p' IWe 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( D, s8 N" N! J/ S( L
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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)2 O+ m/ w) ~5 b5 ] v* ~
# X- T0 ~& S O8 p( [! }+ [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。) , L5 q+ T" w @6 O# Y4 r3 n* Y. j J3 f- I% T
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?)" W B! x. ] V& L+ h- O! [
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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! ; K7 i5 X1 K1 V' y6 z; B+ K ( c, t2 ~# F- B& {; m( c 3 G, v4 S# B0 V. Z' R" x0 T {6 Q2. 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。 9 P8 v# n9 k- J. }" i1 D 2 i% F- e6 @0 _: W2 P; ~例如:( ]& U. \- P! h8 l3 a( g7 O5 w
8 O# v: f+ L) E; t/ `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) - U% P- | o+ F9 A @ 9 N( d) |: T$ i, j% r. M" vDespite 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) 2 [; @! H* D, A F+ o' ]& t6 }% Z8 r3 H$ 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) : K* j3 r8 E- w4 E + `+ ]% O$ C3 V2 r* `5 @4 KHe 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)8 ^- d6 r. N$ {) G- ]" r! }
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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) O( I' x, [$ g0 N$ a$ w, y
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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) S! ^% q' N1 I
! U2 ^, {) u8 i) VI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)( d: c' M F' r7 `! s" h
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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: 5 x0 |* J1 F0 `) g7 d+ R& g" S( a3 O8 n2 v. g
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: E1 l* v* [+ a/ | " p! V% w, R" o8 KThe 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# x5 @, a k+ m7 @8 M* B, T# W% y6 `$ L; S% k; g
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。); t9 M; i7 B9 {% i$ |
! D: n6 O5 u8 _- Y( L1 f+ ~. v# ]He 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); n& e s+ v7 M6 t+ b
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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)) L& B% x( }) p ?: n& k
8 }$ V2 c/ m0 ^6 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) 6 [- Y9 ^7 h2 x( g) I 4 X$ E8 P. u' Q `$ b, X7 _2 W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.) w3 `1 V* K, x. X
, M G. m, U& g5 a! D" q7 {此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。) d) Q3 N0 O9 R" a1 C2 ~
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9 L1 K6 q& l$ Y6 @) e2 F 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」。3 v- m5 B5 t A5 F: q7 w2 l- q
5 G( G! I+ f+ ^1 X X例如:* r8 Y8 e; k4 ]1 W k# G' q) r
8 I8 Z" y/ y; X8 K' ]; @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) . [- i0 b/ U$ |. w2 {' g @* w9 t9 y$ r/ B
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)7 \$ l+ v, e0 B5 J5 g
/ b9 C4 V4 T0 iThis 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) H4 E' X4 L: G) c/ ]7 p8 H, X2 x
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。), C$ _; w: u2 k' w4 L
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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。)5 m$ k1 |- M; t, h
+ r+ O& ]( d2 e- @( ~0 c9 iPolicemen (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)# x8 z$ [% r; R3 N4 q( B
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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)) s4 `' r% p/ a
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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。)2 m9 ?; i8 K- G( V. B5 P
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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。" r2 D6 {1 [% c$ K" P$ t
4 i( P0 s+ _& E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; ) f J) Y$ P y2 n7 V; j - c W- H+ D _2 I* b& G对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;; T ]$ h+ i1 Y+ G* {) \, m/ @) L" g
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ; g$ N5 ~5 |% w3 N7 [) o. A. _1 Y $ O+ P' G& d' k6 v& x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: 4 h( l* ?6 d2 b& v# | t0 C 3 ]& [; v- n, V. ?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)。" Q- ~4 d1 l8 C& h. T- Z$ P
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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)。 & U6 E I5 y6 J" s: @* f* ?7 I