+ K& }5 q& `. A0 DMany 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). H; O4 E+ G u2 c8 L
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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。) % i L" ^7 |2 F& I : ?# E. C& x" L( f" F1 @2 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)' r, T/ ^% f. O# w3 b0 u, M
, g$ d3 Y$ f# p# K5 p7 p. o, zThe 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?) , \- e* w1 `1 D' x' s) H1 P* @6 o D+ H% G
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。)! v! @' l+ Q! w1 W& O
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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) # \& I5 O7 }4 r8 ?& f* U) B" K" i2 Z$ |' D% j% r* H
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!) : X% H! E) l% f! h* ? c- J5 Q" O
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)1 k/ I" J% w8 o0 }3 c" c7 F$ N
' B) O% i6 ]3 @* B/ x; l$ WWe 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。)5 V3 P, [$ Q; H' G6 T
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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?) ) N+ h! m' V& e. j) {; L* } $ f6 q' e0 W9 k4 F/ A% C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! k5 m/ }4 G G) W5 c0 K5 s! Z* ^6 [& H; d3 `2 j, c9 F, ?
* y3 s' g' T U* g; t2. 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。0 W0 U+ _" w5 A- W5 i" r
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例如:& ^0 D2 b# _$ v5 u5 X: w7 {3 `0 V
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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)) h, { }- u1 @; L& u
- Z' [) x$ F( i1 BDespite 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)& C2 `5 r$ B8 q1 _ w T( h- c: q
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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) 5 \& {" `+ w& p: C3 { . y3 f" e/ m: ^. X% AHe 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)6 B% o4 D8 y1 H. C
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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) 2 v8 r; u& a4 w0 w9 ~ ; w5 X4 t" H* _( o1 T" 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)# f6 R& P1 Y( t0 E8 m5 v
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)4 ]2 K: A: e! E
8 c0 V/ _7 U0 H3 z: S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: ; L; p/ }- {* K3 b 4 g# M# S. g2 y5 w9 [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。) ( B8 f8 a: k0 p/ n0 M # ]6 S" ^6 X7 iThe 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.)' S$ M0 d1 M6 ^8 e( G% y
7 {! t6 v& \2 Z( h; EHe 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 M, T( s& g# Q0 _0 O# G) p+ S g7 t8 V' e5 w. a' U8 {1 a! k
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) 8 C' {2 i y$ q# j2 g& c! \9 ~1 e, B, s# Q8 j
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) ) [$ g( W+ X g3 g+ h+ ?! Y % q1 l1 P& W' I) G6 B! hEnclosed (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): O8 \" h f, V7 T7 J
1 R" X2 F& r/ e! }1 y _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.) ' D1 i* [, A, v- r, I8 `% o0 f: s6 `4 k: t8 D; q1 w1 Y( u
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 , R% U; [ [+ P# m * E! k9 f+ c1 P0 ^. }) Q3 S4 K$ P/ ^3 h' n 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」。! ?# F; n5 w4 r( `3 W) v* q
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例如:0 R" H( R" n$ N: A; Y+ T R
4 u% C% K. ~2 w* h: A! o NMankind 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) 7 u. B( j# {' [8 a6 U8 J % W! U, Y& o3 s. T! w1 EManpower 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) f% b! [" O. V7 U$ J# |9 m
% [! |% ?+ M( i" r# PThis 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) ) {# @* M' Q6 K$ p' R+ F / y3 e% |/ C+ J( H' z+ MHe (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。)9 s. k6 a6 w0 ]* m3 s" v
% F) j6 I6 r! _6 I% ~ Q- a. PMany 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 E" a( v, m) Y' b4 C ) v3 s, G' D' Z' {+ a/ {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)! T' f5 N2 c' m8 W# u& x+ M/ l
' S8 ]2 D9 T- I) S) mCongressmen (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) : Y. T' p0 y' [5 N( q- O0 ^2 L' d. q. G
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。)- X W8 H9 T3 m
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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。9 T+ v6 Q" M o) @- ~/ k
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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:+ _3 e# `3 a& D E0 Z; n
) E V8 F6 I0 Y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; 0 _) h$ b) i. S/ h9 a: I7 s" q0 i4 W
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; / R4 s, v# C3 S. X( T$ o / r% [7 m0 ~# ]. s5 n对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; / D; I" I2 w; [$ C' J 3 X2 V( P: H! r% w对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;% Y6 n0 Q: u8 y
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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:0 x6 n/ Y3 H9 m' T0 J: C c
+ ]( B& e7 F2 c; z( E& i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)。 , o7 n5 |+ j# Z: X' L2 ], l8 ]1 `) y& D1 j/ f+ p
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)。 % m' s8 R7 o0 D% }& p