: I8 ^% [1 L4 b$ Y& r* ?9 eMany 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)* c8 I' m$ F ^6 e2 j0 l* v- {
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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。)) |+ |5 g) T2 ?0 c' w
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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): k. F9 y1 I" D3 ]
& `; [5 |8 Y, n6 g6 U) qThe 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?) 7 l! T2 w9 h3 O; q" f7 i- |! R$ P& {( N Z, p2 k* H
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。) 3 D/ a! {1 r- K% ^. p( z: W 8 u* N1 |; k A2 n9 h/ H+ cMr. 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) 9 r% m; t7 W& A' u2 E: n / [4 \- c9 ~% T- F. jWe 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!)/ U u6 p& C2 \. S6 V; Q
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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) " b& _. H: F' S' | & J9 s' ^4 a1 w5 o% }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。) / {1 ]* M4 \! q$ q ; \: A7 o0 n, x; ?6 D* [' Y) ~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?)" s7 s" t" V& q6 }
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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! % [2 N* C8 e2 A- I! ? # o4 N' ~5 d9 Z! M; t Z; X, ~' p* C# O" C 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。. f, p5 h# @ b( h+ J6 @5 h
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例如:* Q7 f% X d- H2 u r7 ?1 z9 z
- v, M3 e) \% n$ z5 qAt 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)" C0 y6 C9 l7 j- I" x5 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) 6 B9 F) ~3 I0 G) b# _ & W" ?! \8 `. H0 K. K+ v/ BI 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)& D2 S/ ]/ u7 q. y! y) s
+ N5 @* Y L& ?) L5 |% KHe 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) : k( |9 E- c7 z+ H1 y- j. E$ U4 D6 x! @0 r
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)" f# g2 Q$ w) C( t
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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)& o+ ~" h6 \. E" X& F. _! n0 i
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) h- P8 O- D$ H) f( _: b0 G! U : I$ G! z0 u0 M4 {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:% P7 l' u u4 e# B3 T
3 g$ {, j: A# N4 n# M% s; V; _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。)" O5 e3 D$ b2 M0 S0 F0 L/ _
: {4 R! x8 T, D$ r- t: S4 _The 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.)9 J: Y; j. o7 [( d# K+ R
/ @% {3 L" ]" U$ j2 AHe 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。) / I8 k. z$ B; a S& Q( t! H7 |0 q% _% @
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) & h2 `6 `) m! g3 Y8 O4 f+ j9 S _* e! V5 h' W7 W, P' ~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) 3 w* M% O2 V9 r) b% X ]5 v. w/ m" u4 P' H% |
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); m. X: g3 Z& }6 b F0 |1 i
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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.)+ g9 f: k. `; s! j! G8 D
: i% c/ e0 i$ j0 j# k( a7 d0 {. Z此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ; i7 _. ^ Q( \ $ l, D- K- S) A( O: r/ U8 e$ k$ a j4 h 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」。 0 [8 q1 {- ^* a0 k0 ]! k/ ~9 S. L" K9 B
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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)' ]. u6 Y4 C( L$ a$ L% Z
; H" ]" ^# F) w/ NManpower 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) ! T% J. c: s+ R 9 p; q3 K+ W% aThis 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)2 C& E0 U% |$ I' h2 T9 H' U* R2 j
" |- F7 I2 A+ ]% | eHe (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 f9 r; ]1 g5 s4 z9 }1 h/ c* B
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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。) ' v9 U5 K. g/ W+ J1 [) n' _3 P% X9 i: E' a0 S5 A* L
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)/ I& f+ j" e, {& r
i$ T$ L9 x3 c7 eCongressmen (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)7 [! z2 t u! h2 f n, r D
9 U1 j4 ^$ p: S" x# M2 O5 _4 lStewardesses 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。)- j8 h: d6 R- h8 P* L) X
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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。 3 Q* M& ?& F/ j' Y3 Z $ X/ }4 M1 [8 `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:+ B% ?3 f3 i' U
. k& g z5 v# z2 m7 a: O: _# u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: 6 @0 ]5 e: e1 _* c. X' ]* O; @9 z 2 l+ H* e. c; ?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)。3 C5 ?' V' I' [$ q2 k3 Q
" r: t6 |8 S$ a6 k+ X* V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)。) ~3 G8 v$ \! ^4 T8 {0 {$ S4 S4 [