, x7 m F& E" A, S例如:1 A+ g' Q$ X- b9 s8 H
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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) f' P- _! P# O* o. C! w
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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。)3 b% H2 C& H u% J' v0 t
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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) 9 G; a/ U" @2 H9 h: { 5 K1 m# H, c% J) q& o6 |* J& ?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?) 9 Z |$ i1 d3 g$ R8 h + p$ ]% ^, [; L5 M! O3 {* qI 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。) 1 v; P& n" M% i7 I1 ^5 I4 m7 G4 ?
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)3 g" M1 g4 o$ f8 Y8 z& J& Z0 l; M% ^* n5 t
6 w u- }7 M9 h- mWe 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!)) Z' R3 M2 c+ b3 R8 a
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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)# D5 v6 w! b( o/ z" m
. `; |! r+ K- R" Y! cWe 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。) - G7 r/ p) Z, N5 d# U( O 7 D& c( F6 n$ }! Q8 a% aPlease 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?) 4 G3 A5 z5 x# M& [ " ?' L ?' y7 S" Q/ R7 N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!# R! ~$ k- W! W+ q: W6 l
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- {8 _+ [, _$ l& v$ t& z1 z! d% a 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。9 m5 j7 j# X3 q ?, n# {
2 v) K6 ^) O& l( A- ?4 y' t例如:6 S9 w, v1 }1 c0 m- N
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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)' n- I' Z D& F: O0 H1 q
9 W4 M0 r2 a( CDespite 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) " R0 l n! i6 {# M' _% B# v9 x) N! 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) . l! \4 T$ F" `+ R5 T0 e2 K& g0 K9 P; r( V0 g* O: K" N& M
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) , `/ Y3 s7 |3 ?/ V9 C. d7 j$ D0 i, D& y! p* Q3 ^1 f% |
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% H( D: }2 j- s4 N/ l
1 e) y) V7 v3 DShe 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) x) G0 d4 u+ s: h. o! R
. n7 b, u$ w% r4 Z* x9 u1 d: E7 yI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生), `" B1 K; y$ v% ]9 }) 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:/ J @; z- D% q/ @7 {9 B% o( B* \6 p
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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。)2 P: x6 Y2 |$ @3 l& u
: c/ m( H0 ^4 L+ T8 K3 aThe 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.)) [3 ^# s0 v! n" S
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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。)! @4 X; R/ }2 o1 ^
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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) ! [2 a0 w8 I' A* x3 q5 {" c8 Z0 a/ ?4 C+ \% ?- e
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) % D5 w0 y' v' t! D: I ?( p) R. B) {0 B3 v
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)+ u0 r8 }% _9 S* u/ f+ n) h. D
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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.) ! Z; _7 Q8 x. i! j& T) V) J: F& Y7 i% P, A0 f( W
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。& K) h% ?4 }$ R. N* P. Z3 L
4 n6 W: Z/ ~2 Q9 b# B: d 2 A% s5 D* T( q% i: k 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」。/ {0 b" z k7 }6 q1 R3 Y0 [: H
~+ C, Y: e' c* k- \& O# j! F例如:3 L, t# o% b8 l8 s/ f" ~5 B4 F
! y' ]8 i( B7 h6 B4 v2 |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) ( R5 V2 Z, b" A3 @ 5 _- [+ t& o2 |7 w3 ]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) , ~5 y3 ?% f) d/ x; n, H- p+ l& n; G: }5 c/ ~) ^8 v0 O3 M m( S2 C
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) 9 @' b6 @" A5 D* f: l : P `. P5 z. j# }' Z4 ZHe (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。) . n4 [8 o. r3 W) q6 u) R3 ] t; t3 Y u2 b& X
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。) % z6 R' v5 Y( i% h' ]( O; r ?0 [3 D7 i! V3 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) ! v8 O" q, S4 u* _$ V. q" q: ~, d$ G% w/ b! V
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) ; _( G& z0 X) G 9 f! l! F) g# zStewardesses 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。)0 Y7 L5 b7 v: u0 E" q* ^* [: H
" i, V1 ]; F- ?# |. B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。: O& Y9 M2 d4 }, T' i
R/ N9 [8 o' @6 _ b! ~3 S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: . N3 x( k% V8 h( a0 s7 E. \- y+ e" A% `; r, B
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 F) f6 z2 B) _; t: e
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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;% E1 C2 s& j0 w* X! V
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;3 c9 I0 v; w6 a' H3 s/ Y0 i
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;. u* @& w1 {! ?! E5 {3 [5 L2 b
; L# q d% c( O. H2 X4 ?* |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: # ]: \3 L# Y4 M' o/ B , Q3 R" q g- r2 K6 v# ^3 x/ M( A% _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)。: s8 e! v0 v+ J+ R% H7 q3 X, n: t
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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)。 0 a, X! H9 U- A: r$ j8 P