' W7 s0 i, o3 S Z6 C例如: ! G: @! T2 k$ s$ Z* d. x4 f+ s6 X8 x. @
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)9 n0 [/ U9 a, C) K4 u, O
. _, }1 G1 W7 Q% g* VThree 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。) 8 N' [( M* O* N+ W5 y5 v. e5 G # {4 P( |, y! F- v9 ?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) - M% Q2 f3 A: r3 z4 N( K$ F! V. E6 v* l! P3 j2 @
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?)2 X- f$ t0 Y. ?1 w! B" K8 v
+ c) H$ M) J" f+ u5 N$ E1 JI 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。)5 e, ]/ r6 M' l/ h9 ]- L2 }4 v+ g
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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) 7 _3 t8 `; h& t! v& Y( z6 ]+ I! z1 [! Y) Z6 _
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!) 7 A C% d3 T- V$ A+ ?/ ~- {9 F1 U/ q& F" S. o4 o( B3 I$ m* |
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) 3 m' A3 \/ C$ }5 E8 Q0 L- J8 Q, ]+ b. I7 n
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。)4 [% a( @7 c! q: k4 \: z+ A& x3 B
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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?)) X, ]$ Y3 H4 k" Z# n& f
0 J# B% e% Q! w) E% n! G& h0 k0 I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$ v8 m( r8 c% o$ B, S; b
6 X$ K$ l0 ~# Y9 `, q例如: ( q" ^1 s$ S1 t( p6 i5 T7 b& o$ z+ [( q+ E* ~) c# V0 O
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)" U) {* P9 `2 t5 M
' K( I- x" A$ d( y0 s+ _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)- t4 { @/ z, e% A) _
9 C0 f1 C, O6 }& R1 rI 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) * `' C, O9 a7 N7 L- b . | x5 b. \. ?8 O+ [3 CHe 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)4 r& b5 T0 ?6 V9 s/ D* r
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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)- k* C+ k: W) B" e( `$ c/ I
% Z! v ]% ~8 J- I- r! ?( R" D% _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) + `1 s9 S0 }. @) J( T! J3 r6 P; K. U& d7 D( T
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ; B4 Y5 x0 V9 F3 I/ Z$ Q0 Y9 x& G+ N4 a+ i. D
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:4 h' Z( f# w- g0 ^1 I
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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。) , A8 F2 G) E& [0 A 9 [" n' i; v- T, u8 f) ]2 H1 k2 QThe 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.) - X5 S5 ]/ M: R# o7 d1 q$ p/ Q# {' Z4 t C6 b# A/ n( g3 r
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。)1 V" @0 U1 d0 I( _
- U$ ]* I) b9 \0 E/ }6 OHe 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), }% s2 Z0 g& g
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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) ' y! @5 y0 I# y' b- i8 U: p : G! I9 m. e- ?- k1 i) L3 Y$ KEnclosed (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) " [& C `# }/ A$ z $ U$ q7 ~2 a$ ]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.)- A# Z9 i# `: s7 k+ v
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。9 X& H, }3 f9 P
* ] V9 p5 {) p- @% Y4 n' b+ _7 D Z3 `, ]$ W! K/ l 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 L" I F1 g X3 Q3 d
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例如: ' B6 j% Y; s8 a" c! u1 p5 R$ \1 [+ v! _2 x; }$ l4 ~! _
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) & @& X. ^, \+ L0 Q2 F/ n& l! c3 v* @9 o! V0 J
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)& L2 i+ K; F3 c( N! C
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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)6 G/ V5 B8 x `0 v9 u1 c# n
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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。) 5 V( r7 J& s/ u5 F: `1 j/ {6 |2 R" b/ {2 d1 R, ]1 }
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。)0 S! f7 J; x/ i; F
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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)3 a# [# A) X- \& ^1 r# c4 |, x+ p
N. h* Q- [9 l: {- Z y4 w+ ICongressmen (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)" d6 e6 F8 J0 b- D+ [
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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。)6 Z* k# Q9 j& Z2 b; K2 [; q8 [
6 P6 O/ g: b2 a0 r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。 * P0 Z C1 ?3 y1 j' R , W- s- T% F8 R: N' I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:+ R/ K* G: {2 Z