) @3 A( h1 I: ~& P例如:$ y/ `$ m! l6 e% e2 F
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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) 7 J- p+ a/ }; g+ x: w; D3 e) s4 s
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。) / D" Q3 R' c! {4 [ + n; G% k( y2 t; {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) ; s# w2 U( U1 y' `( P; B4 e6 [ " a7 ]/ l B. zThe 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?) + t9 z. p( l' ]/ D / w1 H5 E% w) c8 pI 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 D* J- x/ V& X; g; u$ t" ?- L8 ?7 N# g m3 F' N% w8 r
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), e/ L" U8 {8 ?% l0 j! Z
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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!) ' o/ Q$ B: I6 F- n% n3 v0 v( T. n+ B& a, C4 ?
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)7 \% A& K, _3 A [/ k4 v8 _1 W
, n% k* }4 W7 X8 {' C2 J! cWe 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 G) f% r8 I( \; s2 b7 ]" v0 g6 y! W) m( w! Q
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?) ; q) J( i: Q7 G, I5 V1 z- o+ K1 \- f& ?! D
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!! G4 U5 ~! D3 U$ \( l+ B' y
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9 p9 B7 e* k. b; r. X& ^ 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。" g6 E5 Z4 m2 i# H1 u& v
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例如:# j( C" z+ z% u% }" o& O
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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)7 {: N" d3 _& O5 R7 |
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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)! c `" d! Y. y1 A2 K2 h) D
9 a* {8 c$ J2 q, lI 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) # @+ ~' F+ c: m, N5 J. M0 X( F( H+ [9 E( @: i! d% X8 [
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), C5 k8 R& I5 b
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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) . ^) ?+ U0 \3 d / G e: y$ ]# }- a1 oShe 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)& Z" S. I( G7 `
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)) C u6 F$ n. C
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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: ' `' H4 I& F" U/ A+ K 5 J% p, h( z! s& q9 j yThe 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。) ( q4 [; ^7 h" r) h, S$ ]4 O/ }8 H2 f5 K
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.)2 s9 }* k1 o) D
7 o7 V( F( O( p! yHe 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。); c8 G" {6 h* ?( e8 s/ Q, i
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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) , h' b. ?% m* y$ v* ]! M; v" ]9 k, b# Q0 N% N+ X
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) ; z+ F5 z% }3 r9 z$ A: A ]0 z0 w1 B' d8 ^( b6 B v* B
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 F5 p0 f- J3 k9 t- y) r# c8 [
) ?( {1 \" V. d8 {! s# `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.) 0 \6 `: W2 Z9 N! g J: [% Q+ e" Z: Y5 @( J4 ], G
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。& i3 W" d' `/ S! H1 Y$ R
n9 y" C# y( U# V1 Q' v ' N) q: a' B" s! r) C3.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 l5 q" C! x7 P; ~6 W
/ \2 j' l4 Q" q& g例如: % l" T3 X* L' v4 C9 L% B0 [9 n; a0 `" R; G8 u! Y8 b
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) * L4 {! c' E8 Y/ ~: y1 A- Z- T/ I& e+ a2 |3 D. p! g- U
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) + J8 ?' `# C+ X% F# ^0 T& v' b0 m- k * q$ W$ O' j- p( [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) ( _: s" {+ d' Q1 q( G1 e" Z, e! a 3 A. H* B. o2 f% q: w0 d& MHe (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。)/ M! e$ i& ^+ w5 T6 y3 ~8 Z9 M) c
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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。) 0 B- r/ M) w! @0 `- K1 l2 Z7 \6 G: F, f3 Z4 D( x
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)$ R7 ~8 L$ O9 T+ N8 N$ {; }
/ y7 j/ N& s1 I% w" pCongressmen (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)2 o6 ]+ ^- F/ p! ]" [9 E% ]
9 b% v* x$ y# HStewardesses 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。) - l# f9 s; v& t$ A; L9 _7 R( j0 R6 @( j: m3 J; t
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。 a% \2 B6 M5 P9 Z ! }) l* b5 b* b, r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: j% d7 }3 r( D* Z + M8 c9 z: b. K; v$ ?4 N( O0 h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;: W8 P" O. X3 M/ P! v
1 m' H; | W% [! m. R. o$ n- J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; " t6 y: W" K: @8 ]2 t7 f& ^! R! T a% c) R
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; : L7 f: [8 }) Q" U7 b+ Y4 |7 j* X. y! x1 u4 I
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ! ?5 C% {# D0 O( U' `0 `# J N- S
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: & b. o; n4 @0 W/ I U ! V) k* G8 ~! s$ v7 i4 b, @6 z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)。 4 k' `/ ~; f; F4 I4 c , x. V. @9 w |$ R# 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)。 \" Q( s( b: J1 m