% B8 e' U/ U; _9 w" o t5 zMany 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) 3 ~& ~$ E1 V6 o, D/ d( U5 X- g6 ^2 P+ }& d$ `" M) h
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。)2 ^0 V% S& |% P* ~
$ k0 E( D U& D: |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)/ ^. b% V; Y+ b! Y2 R
9 K5 ^* a! A9 ]/ I @- N- 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 l: S! T1 N3 d' g$ W# L6 z3 V- q. Y6 M7 j* m
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。) * s- U5 p% z( a6 p2 Y" f2 ?, ^" }0 W8 ]
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) 5 b& m( N5 ~2 L5 ^' C: M/ Q2 ` ' ?& A% U5 m8 c" J, AWe 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!) & o) F: a2 ?& P* L $ C9 u8 J. ~* o2 ]2 ~2 eThe 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) ! Y5 R0 U# I) ~. X% a( F # d; U. A2 ^# u" S* |8 `0 tWe 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。)! ` l U- L# J* M' r
% a" p* `; G! }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?), t" d* i0 o2 h( Z
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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, I: {4 E3 d+ ?
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2 N$ r3 z% y: R6 ~ D9 ~7 M 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。 3 a& p+ i! C* \9 x, Y6 C7 N/ n: _! `5 L8 `8 u" l
例如: ; n9 @- o, v0 T# M0 M8 \; f G9 R. K3 b1 h3 `. B( Z9 k# @
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) 5 {- o; ?" v- q& E! @1 B: c, R0 D" p+ S6 b" t, w+ I! E6 [- ~, H
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) 7 U3 k! t1 Y' t, k1 {" ?8 d& o- i( _4 d6 |5 J1 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) . f0 W3 F! i P, L: L ! W! t0 p- H% F1 l. j, v) z% D* BHe 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) @: U3 E) h! P2 m. P 3 h. ]' \6 J% @2 ^ D# j+ U7 v! pIn 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) - q) }+ B, L/ g0 u) s. \ * s7 h) K) _. b& ^. r$ tShe 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)/ ~4 W$ ]6 L/ {* v8 B
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) . E. f8 Z7 D7 e; m. ~" w/ V* X 0 @6 H, F8 e, ?1 g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: . X; e; R0 d3 G- ^5 x * ]( J4 B8 U A6 B; uThe 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。) 2 S4 ?$ h) O8 S9 Z$ o% T" U6 R1 y; \
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.) 8 n' |7 M0 _% |$ I' O0 K + @: o+ A( Q0 T1 ?# Q/ C: _/ W8 f5 VHe 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。)1 Z- g" U0 f1 N4 ^- z! L$ A/ ~
, u6 S- d% ~0 i$ EHe 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)0 Q) l! U; x/ c% k$ P9 G
2 [0 [% [; ]/ f/ @. N, g' iWe 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)7 Y" H" c! f0 v! g1 {
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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)4 u: i* N8 p$ v( D. s# K3 [
- E* f+ o4 N$ ?% K3 B, j R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.) * k- S; L( ]6 E. o% t ) f& o% _5 I0 ^此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。; j& z+ F6 x" g+ t
, J, J" u: T3 l ( @* N, D0 M. i) N: v9 r9 j0 ~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」。 0 L# f' f) O2 q- H. u# W$ v8 e; r- a. I& B6 _1 e. B
例如: 1 |1 w/ `+ e/ ~2 K! ~! e5 t 5 U- S5 g9 d, j2 UMankind 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): }- C2 F' G, S% k2 @* j
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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). H/ D5 u* D2 w& d! s
0 r0 Y7 Y* e& @# x; ^* M# {( a% C1 ZThis 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) 1 ?8 ]& ]. F3 D+ } i/ f8 L9 Q; W9 ~. e# X A9 }
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。)( N9 T6 v/ d$ ~, m# O0 l: |" b0 Y
9 r$ K, O2 F lMany 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。)) h y% W0 x: V; `. m" n) i
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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) D P$ E# g' Q& ` . a7 I% E2 Z7 V* i: n' q* @1 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) - x, f$ i) l/ G |3 D4 `/ [* ?' {, S8 x1 {, j
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。). a3 ~9 X) } u$ g# m
+ Q7 n$ }0 w7 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。 0 o0 O# V% p! l" {2 ?# d 9 ]) E* a9 }* r& \& t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:& u) J4 d: E2 h+ m
& I; F9 k3 I% @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)。5 \1 u6 ]/ G/ N