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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) : o1 k5 S. ^, p; h* [; g1 f- c2 l8 |& Y1 U7 ~& j& I
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。). H& n% t8 L) }* S2 G4 l
" y9 P4 q' ^* r+ o7 [, y) N* s5 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) 0 F8 j- L/ g# M 0 ~, Z8 Q/ P" n$ m7 C' R0 j$ VThe 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?): o8 i" t$ u6 P% {1 K& I% C
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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。) 1 n" O2 X+ W: \; D : O8 h* ] Y' }; m8 \1 Y3 `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)4 C/ `& X, `" K3 n9 k
- p1 u& e# z" w, s5 [: N# u iWe 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!)! e" ]) j0 x( e. U
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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)' u: V1 ?# n7 t: P& Z& I
4 ^+ @. }; H" B! m6 SWe 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。) ! g* Q S/ Y# M% R5 e1 P5 E + B& @! |$ h% r$ ?% 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?)$ {7 j2 u$ a* g1 }
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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! ' e, V! `+ {' x5 m+ V& [ , {/ X, v6 E& U2 C% Z1 ^: c# M 4 V" L2 q, k5 x7 A2. 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。 ( e/ A. M' L; h4 j! I8 n% [ ( ]+ s" \7 X: w4 G例如: : P, U7 T) K: ^- R/ } " n* Z4 E3 b( f3 O% GAt 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)! B+ D+ E* v; }' ~3 H2 q4 k" Q
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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)' ]' P4 F! ], y
: T$ Q* C0 k: D: QI 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) * Y; D. m z: y2 Z+ B * |* _) D- M; Z+ O( XHe 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) . Q+ H: @. h; E! R! X8 W5 _" s* x& {- U& V" A0 W
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)+ W. ^9 a/ e" e% G* z" X% A; F% d
- [5 `4 a" s7 O/ u; hShe 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) 0 }/ D- {- _- S, e2 Y. B. L% u, r
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) s9 w1 a/ d/ n' o1 Z) D4 I0 \0 a
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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: : R9 Q* f0 f4 A, n# f& p 9 n* K$ k$ R8 i1 lThe 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。): X/ T: y4 b) Q l3 R
* G% ?' A# x9 {4 A% A' G" `7 nThe 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.); I5 S# [, {4 E8 `! o
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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。) 7 |* J5 U$ _7 s7 G# {) U6 ]7 V1 ~
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)# s J0 u6 L, w5 ^5 l
$ C# L( n! @; y: H9 h% ]( g1 @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) 5 l; L& s& b$ u& J g' S& i . a8 c, J+ f0 @! D; 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) 9 {9 c; l* x9 w$ U 3 l0 y( n" H/ J- m. M- p8 x9 U: 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.) . X! {& {8 e2 {4 y; L- h1 t$ h+ k8 p) K6 b2 u; i* g2 q! ^
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! u1 q/ F2 q% R* l5 _3 n( V+ o
x# ~2 m; M+ t ( T' N& a* q0 ?7 n) g3 |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」。 2 [. D, {3 |2 c& A3 l# N * q# B/ ?0 o3 h0 x: T! K例如: , u: \7 p) \" k) e; g) f 0 H: N7 ^. a% }% f0 K6 kMankind 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) 2 f M0 ~# g6 [! V9 K; x1 i. o& G ( f+ h# I7 R9 I2 c* l3 lManpower 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) # b6 I; ]) p7 b8 ^ % g1 n+ C! T! { M' A" HThis 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) 1 u, H- ~6 w1 I0 \' ~$ w! ~. @$ l$ n# X. F s* [
He (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。)+ _: F6 r5 P( H* m$ K& h" K* P4 E3 O6 Z
9 G( ]3 z$ ]! `3 W8 hMany 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。)7 z, q6 U' ], i G) 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) ; C" X' ]6 E$ A8 n9 |' D8 r1 r * L6 H* G' b+ {( v: d: `/ }+ V: S# nCongressmen (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) 6 n4 u; P/ p3 q2 z( x / H4 y* D, ]# k# Z7 |8 dStewardesses 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 U% l2 E0 B9 k, I2 v5 _ 4 w6 C& e3 F! c1 {# x1 P a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。( t% T6 ?$ e1 K8 A2 c5 _. ^+ G
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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: ; f* R9 k4 L" Q" m % n/ I9 L. `+ o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;+ Z+ f. w; x) u( h% h0 d
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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; + M; }& k* i* R7 Q6 n' p/ G. f1 a& s! y/ F* z/ {" N0 f( H" f" n8 k( x6 A
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;- p+ ?! x6 t% W* g! ?' @6 u
9 U' m9 S5 C( ?7 S' Y对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ! S; `1 S# Y& F7 n+ o+ S $ a) i, f) d; l# U" D# R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:; h5 u* O# \+ D+ E% I, S- m
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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)。0 w' s- h; h; k' V/ {/ M" t* P0 ~+ p
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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)。/ q; I% D6 `, K$ `8 _+ R# Z