* o5 g5 b. h% N# F3 N* B8 s例如:( q$ a2 s$ |. Z( B- H
8 R; H, F8 Y0 K" J) iMany 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)* a& P7 [! g) t" T) C! g e
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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。) ' C4 Q: `8 h$ D2 O8 M: K1 y) Y& Q8 E" Q W# |) @
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) 8 P& O- R1 ]4 Y0 g5 ]/ Z & ?0 q0 E4 w1 AThe 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?) ( g7 y3 [+ k8 L$ M% q. W6 |3 ?9 ? q% O$ `( K! Y$ A
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。)% i/ T2 a1 _$ w) d2 Q; W1 k% A& b
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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) + p- ~7 L" t% ^/ U. I" |3 j+ G, P. p
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 c5 `* ~% h& d# ^# h
2 Y. \* P' ], f. J7 |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) 4 c' R" e" \/ T$ X & C7 a' l; M* Q b; F4 pWe 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。) / ~9 {/ z5 \5 h; X4 O& V2 q% W c0 ?4 x. ~$ c+ K
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?) + r) w% n" T( f5 t0 [8 K) @# h- o 1 q* @% d. b; d2 f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!1 b) \1 J7 D; G k* i3 o0 B
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0 q: W7 j) h# _1 _0 m5 J! n }7 ^ 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。 ) @$ A# f- ]) D6 l( h- a8 Z6 O* ^+ F; P2 \! R
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8 X# |+ w. o1 `% S7 w* w/ QAt 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)1 X( \/ y# Z! n
, x( d$ \2 w; j7 Z4 ]! ]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 ]' @; z z) S$ H6 r- `+ ?7 [& r$ Z
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)0 M5 `3 ? }( M
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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) 3 n( O7 y! b, N: D+ L- }% H. O/ |9 ^( {3 c5 R& H; V# r' X1 T
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)) J9 s6 E% s: g; Q
4 C2 I8 R( w, FShe 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) ! @ L/ P. \/ q6 `4 ] $ ^1 G$ P, [0 G8 q* g& |; GI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)" D7 t6 N; K$ s& M, 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:& M: L! D8 w& p0 M8 x8 _
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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。) * v: b! V9 ^! A/ b/ Y" D9 [# ^/ @- j2 t5 D7 d
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.) 0 _8 E5 A, h6 y( P8 V1 X% s o, r! h/ H5 C7 R7 mHe 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 C, J: P' }$ F
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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)4 g5 U. y- d9 X/ R" j3 m- f
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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)% r7 _- h6 |: g# x) x
2 {; E. Z/ F& M" o- KEnclosed (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)+ `5 W1 |' U2 W9 z q1 n; K
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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.)7 }2 s) c l+ b0 ]
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 " v/ b, }' z& F+ T7 e6 }9 ]0 {2 S% J% r" y
7 R. v( M! U) U$ C3.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」。 ' p# c/ @! x% t" V ' j! ?3 x. k" P, P0 e( u4 P例如:+ I- q# |6 F- u$ Y; l# C% L7 t+ ^6 }
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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) ! O) S( {1 U6 J3 R/ u9 P$ T1 r {; R, {. d$ ?! U7 Z1 P
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)+ W9 C1 b5 f% m* b) H5 t; Q7 B2 l
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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) ( K3 T4 A7 A/ x1 }, P' ~ 1 d/ F2 R1 \/ I) B( E7 I* RHe (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。)" U' l( x5 R$ k8 C! Y1 G& s
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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。)" |8 b' O+ \ z$ A$ f2 x4 K$ M
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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)* x/ g; y+ N2 r' g2 V; n+ I
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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) 7 V# G: |+ e9 V+ Z! y/ T1 {% q( J7 u7 p1 W & f" p4 _0 A/ O( X' e- ] u6 QStewardesses 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 V' c# [# d: A; @! U
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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。: D2 F9 o2 u' ]2 l( k
: v L' E1 W4 C: v4 o! Y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: 5 @7 J# V" s7 N, Y ' h5 J8 x! k: o, C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; 3 k4 e+ p' v z 8 H( r/ C" e8 ?# d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;2 S8 o* k& Y: L7 g# k" M
6 Y; Z6 ~2 j5 n/ U l( F对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; , r; B. ]; y0 Y: D8 `( a) B. H- ?% ]6 {, w+ C) w- d1 q
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ' w4 Q5 r1 ?! f* Z7 B/ P& V+ r0 u8 Z0 r1 `7 }7 c w- W
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: " H& \: F8 A( B' u/ _ ( Y7 t D% R8 F2 u+ Y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)。 + e/ d# g/ [9 d1 d1 {9 N3 e: b % ^ t! N" P* }* p' m3 e: _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)。 & B7 r: ~8 V$ i