4 y1 ^6 d; R- p" y0 M/ A例如: 7 S: }: S; ^# D 5 u; O B; g" w* B7 k! d' ~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) ! @8 h! F4 O+ I* q! H 5 y2 W( e9 Y- v% IThree 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。) : H: c, D0 [; U4 }, n7 T2 ? 0 r5 t9 K& ^2 V' iThis 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) i) D! r7 h3 k! v% [; _/ n* a% s
. y* q3 F$ G" mThe 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?)+ H- S2 y5 r+ |9 T5 J
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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+ G/ q. o# t) Y$ o6 i
& j/ u" g7 G' b5 q2 ]6 t/ T0 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)4 F2 `2 a# w; }: U$ ]* g! [# j
2 p, x; Z+ D5 w) Q2 |# ?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!) : S7 @% c# c; L# ?* |( d `' b6 r0 x, i/ `) A
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)5 o( p- ]& }+ w$ C5 H, z, O/ |$ N
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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。)' h: i9 c* R. V' K; W$ d
$ {) b }/ O" W: ePlease 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?)6 W' F" p8 }0 m7 ?( C
, b5 H- d3 l! a, H& b( v; J, P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! 3 w+ L" T3 K% C' j+ m# K) }; W9 P# ]% Q# x$ v( X
* a! c' K$ E) S8 R; |9 R 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。+ s. x! p/ M; z* a* l2 j
8 S% y( p7 D. G/ M c% Z" S例如:- {5 a9 f8 ^0 |
6 P1 Y# N, G$ u) f2 y$ ]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) ( p# X) v5 N: e) |6 F ; t' o. E; |1 G, X7 ^& R- b6 l9 {5 A SDespite 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) 9 J; W' f7 J) k3 A% ]' q- I4 L+ m8 V. ]3 [( g* w/ ?( o; b1 ?& A% H f& h
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) & O) k: E0 k& o( k" H ) K6 _' y7 O' @' ~' K+ D/ YHe 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)' F4 M$ Q8 Q: |" c3 T8 D5 @3 M7 L
* k% b" N K0 t- a9 @1 rIn 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) 0 i! B& T+ A, }2 k8 W) U; o5 P7 O. z
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) ) S6 C. A: a+ B+ H 8 d! Q( k R/ cI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)6 \; t- u2 n5 u: X# X
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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:1 g- A2 q# e, O" K* `5 q* e. A: k1 O
1 k" z& U8 ~& R( V( n! ^, C$ NThe 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。) $ `% Z% T! `& d% B3 V8 q+ R- z; Z$ B9 F4 A; o7 _- D! X
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.) / @7 L: M/ o# j/ f0 p0 I ' w; K9 i* r! P6 THe 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 {( W) V3 H& o4 W
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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) ' @7 S4 y7 y- k. ?5 H; c- }8 s7 }3 ^$ h9 R6 }7 O0 M& V
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) & W& V+ R7 p- J) h/ D0 [' c5 ] i( y
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) : @6 s8 _5 E- R7 W, h" C6 j9 o; q* p7 Z2 \6 d
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.)6 o% p6 e( K { v! @0 @
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 , A4 F8 w3 T) H$ N* B! [" ?+ t " I+ R5 K) x' \" m * }! g7 w N. w# a" u! X9 D1 M" Y3.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」。1 ]( {/ V+ O' I* H
# G6 [% h9 w/ t; q例如: 7 J0 \: Z- u7 E- e2 F7 h- t # U2 G/ r$ F9 J0 T& b2 @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 H2 \. J* x5 c* i
" Z# @6 E* k2 Y8 ^0 V. q# ]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); E5 x! |4 ]& w, o5 j2 g6 p
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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) 2 r9 |0 F7 U8 j7 n- ~5 n5 M k& W- O6 x) ?7 UHe (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。), x3 _6 y/ q) H% o/ t7 ?
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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 J2 w2 H3 E! Y% l' U B3 p0 t
- f( n9 a. T3 @1 X4 OPolicemen (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) ! ^2 G1 o, R+ _$ [ w, a/ ]( j( h |0 z( c$ i' s/ P) ]) p
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): t; V: k7 P! I. B! G: _& s5 K* i2 n
0 I3 t6 o9 u$ R) {& N- wStewardesses 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。) 5 P) i: w2 z( p; ]8 O: [ Q+ G8 t4 F1 ] y8 b$ X- m
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。6 | f* S$ X. x* F7 L( t
! J7 k) n' p+ V+ z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: 6 S2 o x* G& \. [# `+ C0 C 3 q. \( |, B* v8 R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; : A4 t8 g0 l& n4 Y0 T! \" W: P# V8 Y! o# z% C% ]& f
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;$ m2 E% A/ |/ ^$ O: ^8 }! L