" I0 I, g+ K- B6 ~ p5 ~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) 8 M) O$ T, C: j1 e4 ]5 b) f5 V @; O1 G/ L: x
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。)# z# A2 J$ M& u
0 d. m, k# J2 V. D& A1 x0 kThis 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) ^& ~4 I1 z0 j& D9 Z' p) y: U! i$ n- z3 S
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?) * m; w! V" E$ W) o2 e0 t" Y; D& E( @! ~: f) f; U9 X
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。)9 `6 q7 }' Y1 w% _6 c0 _5 B
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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) % [1 d/ n; i: v7 U! R5 Z$ U \0 F3 t* r& l* z0 E3 p
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!), Z& e6 |5 y7 C! C) s* Q1 w
- j9 K$ R8 y1 u5 GThe 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) % p( c2 |- @( @. }4 o2 \9 r2 Y% ~1 }9 s c. _
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。) I' x1 Y) q+ J2 I9 V
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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?)+ O' Z) h3 C1 l$ X+ v
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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! * g3 }6 ^2 B% v * f- f1 k9 S' p& L' |/ e + Q3 g- a! H) |4 R9 O, J5 t3 z2. 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。. n- {$ c' U4 Q
4 R. e+ K u: Z: D3 c6 J# e例如: # T' c' G* T2 b2 e& k5 U ! w# f2 N3 y9 _3 JAt 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)) T+ _; y. c A
7 q7 n! ]" m# n% ]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)& y. r. J1 h4 V* c1 B$ m& M' {
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I 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). A. h/ Y: m/ A8 ~6 B0 E
( W& [3 s6 p7 K' Y* 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)/ Z+ G6 D0 N! r5 Z
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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)4 |& A& `2 b: f- v1 t/ A
' P1 _" p2 F" ]1 tShe 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) ) d6 }" C' U. ^" _( J+ a8 E; m
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生): [4 w1 D" ]& P( c5 H ^# J2 k
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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:" Z' i6 Z; O/ K% F' ]
6 G3 k- K2 x0 L) U, [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。) , w* t: k0 J: _# S* P* L3 L! _' Y: K& w: j
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.)/ {: ?' x6 I1 G+ \- C
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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。) * R# x, Z! u3 |! j$ v* A0 e3 A: ]/ O( p" ~
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) - \; F' D. j0 ^6 S; y$ \; `5 s) k; j/ Q. `" F7 _1 o& o9 z( l: y
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)7 h& x: }: q) s G( k; D
! [9 A& \( O" _+ L( f. z* LEnclosed (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)" ]* ]( v; s3 Y
/ o% U( n6 e5 R5 z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.)( Q% g$ `) r9 ]" s/ y5 N4 `
9 }) O, |* L. G4 s Q3 T# r% {此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。$ d; S; ]$ h; { |/ b0 |/ o3 W
" v/ [7 C. x7 J! U, K4 F . q3 ]1 u5 V: Q/ t& q2 ^0 q3.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 J1 e0 x& _# X3 T! @& Y6 A8 f
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i9 [7 @8 X3 D2 B5 D; t$ i4 vMankind 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) % y P3 V* Q" O- N' B4 _% x; [6 [ z7 O8 K- k5 C
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) [$ n: G9 l4 O9 T; F: h8 X: M
+ i8 W% o( I; W- P; u. }- e' `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) / H- Y2 t, f8 l/ Q! F" g9 l2 T7 s! J% B
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。) 7 B7 Y! [# c: i( J4 v ! E/ V* S: o3 g! N. [4 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。)" w/ u; H: g4 [+ S9 i3 A# 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) * W1 Z# r( e7 H2 T: ]; `% { ) l/ F- o. _7 x7 |" r6 t0 e% Z' KCongressmen (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) % e* o* B0 Q. [0 z 7 D! a/ Z: n' l# L5 C' Z9 gStewardesses 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。)# J* c3 {; s+ W: O
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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。 / V, W- {, j' P% _1 P9 R% P) x+ t. u7 H- U; z5 A: Z3 \* F1 r: }) O( y
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:4 H$ P0 z' l# G- y+ x
% m/ Y" Q8 h |4 K" \5 c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; 8 J7 D" {3 `% K, h1 d. S; T' o ) w) A& l# d, ~2 U9 q2 W+ U+ I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;* X+ |* Z+ [* d
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ! A; D) I& h$ {7 V( Y / q) c: g- G3 q对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;- q( @0 E) n. H( e1 R) t* ~% A! s1 J
2 p5 ]1 }1 H% Z. R( T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)。 7 `" d' Q' ^/ v