; f; c1 s0 Z3 @1 D" `) F: ], }; }例如: : }3 ~9 a \ C. X! } ?1 @' p3 ~) k( 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) + r, O$ \/ X, ~ e( A; F0 W2 O2 N4 r# d: ~+ A; h' m
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。)* @% ~, x0 m6 i) K3 [! H
8 `& |4 c! T; c: m2 E& ~% 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); G' B7 v; W& y! g: m" J$ d
4 ~ N% B4 b2 j" U" [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?)* l3 v$ ^5 Z i9 ]3 n( f1 u; u
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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。) 2 u! i4 o4 B" ?! e5 c4 t- E: B/ k/ O/ P: q3 N
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): Z, W6 s& r( t8 `
2 v8 V2 y) H R7 h; fWe 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% K2 l. H/ [* E' i: u & @7 p) M4 l9 C' V CThe 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) % P- r9 A9 c9 {6 o+ W* |9 l3 E: k' U: s7 m0 a! F
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。) ; L$ H9 l1 i6 C; p1 \% o* z3 L# q. T) C Y, Z
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?) 7 ]5 H- _; A) s9 m) i, g- Z) [) y 6 S$ `7 w- j9 R o0 s5 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!7 Z$ d' k1 _, F2 l0 H4 n, H
2 c% v% {* K3 n! D: v; }9 ?" h: K* J9 M8 ] 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 ?7 J: F$ ]6 w# n2 E0 s
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例如: b3 z" Y% p8 B% r+ G7 o2 s* _0 b$ T0 `5 p# w) D2 W
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) " ^' L1 p7 }+ N9 c/ e( \8 u3 o2 `9 @/ y! T) G
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) 4 ~% v( Y* G9 n, y' {) W6 j' K( [) Z! V7 ~0 A' n
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)# t- |2 h( y+ ~$ M, c% D, X) E
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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)' T0 F* e9 v9 z& C# @: C" e, L
2 Y% H4 Y9 w, @# ]. g5 D0 _% [: g, OIn 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)% y" b7 L1 Q4 u3 ?% J/ K
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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) * ?+ T: s( a/ f2 Y6 H& l( Q o, {; q7 f
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ) N; Q4 _( P3 R1 }2 o1 Y9 Q% T) O / L: r! g% ~& V- q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: 2 X* f: Q: _+ C% X. g. k6 {+ |7 `& r- S( O
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。)4 T) L. B7 A0 V7 K8 Z0 d4 c
! V W' i. p# U3 v- uThe 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.) ! e1 N: v8 N- d4 M / O9 L/ z1 U# \: j. hHe 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。) ! P: r/ R! y! F! c: D7 L3 r 1 ~& H7 \; M5 J9 K+ b# LHe 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) ; V* x6 o6 Q( r8 H7 R ! p' ^2 v) o' @( |+ [6 y3 ZWe 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) " V @2 A; Q; n% o( L0 C6 k3 |2 A$ a# _# K
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) * ]& u7 S( @* @1 a5 ]6 b) \3 r - R. G' l& ~# [% B9 V1 K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.) + U/ ^+ Z( A$ w3 H ( q1 x4 _6 N( A1 l此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 % ~8 ]0 {: w$ _9 I$ L6 ]+ M. h1 O" r* M8 p/ X1 h: I9 z
4 Q" w% G' L3 i* E 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」。 9 p. H, {) v2 }3 V9 M: P& k+ } R+ E9 f/ M& E: n( \$ _
例如: 6 v6 G& _' h: k* R K n3 v; q+ v, Q* @
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) # q- ]" N; t0 L& w: |8 p ) h2 G8 P1 D5 H; v9 v0 g/ j1 H+ J" jManpower 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) / B/ l7 K g( @% G1 ]( t# \0 F( u 7 ~: i0 M3 i0 \% a6 O8 o( B+ D) KThis 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) 7 w8 ]& [. S8 |: E- `+ L ?1 g0 n; G. c. h* I# Z6 S# OHe (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。) ) x" k: ]1 V g3 v$ h( {1 i5 _" t9 ?& @! F
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 X! y9 V% i9 i+ {! g: B
) a. P8 i9 _$ fPolicemen (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 f& O, Z* d! U3 r 4 H8 m1 \* N9 ?0 Q- G h& }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), I B4 M# d( D$ o" I) ~ C
$ v2 s4 {9 ?* ?' J( eStewardesses 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。) & S4 U3 V) a' n9 p9 ^' ? ( N! [7 E" s2 u& N( F' s# B/ 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。 9 @$ o& i6 R) J" k$ m ^: F* e + l( t! `" r" e& C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:) o' w+ U5 R3 J( f! r
' S5 E; i$ W. k/ f; `' U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;$ u. ?8 }4 |$ Q, c1 Z4 b5 K
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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;4 @7 B x8 T, C4 z9 `
. m' v F. ]( B+ ?6 ~对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; " N: o2 A# @6 J' S$ E9 E 6 O: j" Q. R+ ]对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;* h7 j6 h7 _* v" |8 X3 G
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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: ' r8 |- d' m$ b1 |" g6 Q) @+ n3 p0 q1 y- Q8 O- E2 z7 \
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)。+ k' D L+ T9 x/ w3 R3 Q* ?( O, @
3 x* h4 m# e/ A2 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)。 ! o% \' O& @- t! h# U6 M