' ^& }# U1 N* ^5 j4 LMany 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)6 g. T) `, k' ^. q1 r
! B5 t7 @' ^# l CThree 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。)% G' F# y4 D2 Y$ m" Z
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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) . c# P8 q9 x0 E9 V2 f- x* D 6 @* u4 g3 U6 K9 d4 B9 c9 ]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?) 7 s( |. Q: K1 O6 w; ]0 q6 a, a, `$ q4 @& B0 o8 F$ ?' s# 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。)% {+ J8 M9 q( f f/ t" Z
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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) ' K" z( Z" X0 o" v9 G- J7 \5 s5 L8 q) J' F$ P4 \8 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!)1 V) W: V- @0 f ?+ Q; X# e
$ j* z x$ ]: b$ L/ RThe 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) 0 a: |6 z9 J3 C1 f2 ^1 l 0 e/ @- o- R* w1 HWe 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' K! @( I1 {: |; m - F; X6 u# T: V; dPlease 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?)1 ^# N( o. X/ x7 j+ D
$ y4 |6 j( A6 S9 M# ]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! % \ a8 \3 e6 a: P. z- _& i8 l $ w5 A! a& G7 h2 e: S! G ( C& d- h! `2 T$ e! d2. 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。 $ G' S( i6 d5 O& H 1 V" w- X5 E& b. z9 |# p$ z5 a例如: * _, l K. \) i$ c; N0 h5 o; z+ l! x a
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) ) S3 r( p5 e0 s3 _+ c* v+ F$ M) ^2 G* x5 T1 Z# ?& Q8 F, @
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)8 T9 r+ C- {5 m& p/ T4 H
; g! T' \# b1 R8 N3 n: ZI 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)* o2 w: ^* t0 {' Y; Z0 y
/ ?! A. _5 Y. A) b& ~$ a* D+ ~$ @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) : y' z0 e$ Z/ ]: |+ P ; B* N. V% \. k' g4 }% kIn 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) / r0 K/ a9 k; I& @ 6 q8 Q, E$ b% [( c9 k7 Y% Z. pShe 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) / ?9 r8 ]: H* C( t+ k7 d ; X; k" |, e3 W5 ^8 ^ y* Q, _I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生): Z8 p4 ?8 `4 o# z5 x
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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: 4 j" k8 f& N' i7 E. H- k% C2 r' B
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。)( h$ `7 r" g, F, i; E2 H# E9 V t& g
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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.)! J2 Z8 A4 b3 v& r6 h
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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。) ' P+ S; v6 B3 p* b6 c3 l7 j: z+ p- t( e
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)) b, v5 A0 }7 N. D7 {- `5 [) p
: p' W& ?. \' ~( ]/ qWe 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) 4 M: F9 l t$ f, Q( n: B+ A( R& }7 v; `
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)0 W1 m$ ~+ v9 c8 B1 E
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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.)2 x8 ?8 ]7 `5 \3 V
6 w, A |& h! L2 n此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。* p/ H2 N& e: o4 A$ J0 ~ Y
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" @0 Y2 N1 u% k+ t 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」。 ' J# f+ _ ~' y T& D8 s G! r7 C# z# \$ q1 i; w
例如:1 f% Y" X1 B$ v, e7 n/ ]# O; p
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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)6 A: n% a5 z) J N/ H( s. E$ b4 x
/ P6 S; Q _4 V% m3 O1 Z+ iManpower 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) 2 } B( Q* f+ x2 X( e6 u$ H( y9 Z X, J$ d/ v7 g6 L( v# [. I
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) . j% W) a! W1 T ' Z5 G/ D( ], h- _5 fHe (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 C8 @1 ^* t o2 j3 ^& b ) M3 q/ A: @7 Z' J, qMany 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 `4 P! {1 b+ }, `, x. k 5 P0 J" l+ E1 G1 N& T# H- HPolicemen (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) ( N2 z" ~& f+ P% \+ J0 d7 ^% e" ` 5 Q( e5 w, y6 ` B- i6 R3 vCongressmen (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$ f; {" n+ p8 t; Y) r% ~( i+ T* _- O1 K3 N. S
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。)/ J0 d6 p R; c5 H# ^# ^
4 @4 b* F! x* N+ d3 }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。 " ]) u9 X' n0 ^- D% D) H" x7 \$ R$ v! Z: J2 a
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: 2 h: \& H" M# Z* h; p. D- ^6 r( h- L' x, z
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;# t: i& w8 u% r; X' z# V+ W5 W4 T
! M2 |: R5 W$ u8 m. W/ x7 k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;/ t8 r$ Z5 M0 N+ l
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;, T1 M. A# E# L$ z
, x; e* f4 V; ?. c1 R; _对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;* _9 L* z( R# N' q1 P! K6 n
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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: - j, X8 J0 a* X6 J% C2 p & F! D U, {! W, a( R; j) M& }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)。/ Y; x; \! m0 P! [: G3 I, \
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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)。 ' `; _0 o3 H* g, Q