) T q5 P' h9 O' w1 G5 D. R例如:% W6 n( Z* _6 {! W
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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)9 o8 F; z6 r# p' Z* W
7 o1 \9 l2 j* |" bThree 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。) & n1 t7 \5 q0 E: a! n* A 2 N* B, }- P0 j$ K. OThis 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) # R! M J3 M+ O; v5 y 7 b1 I+ m6 d* Y) b3 iThe 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?) : E. f" v, b) P5 C: R, }* N8 p& Z
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。) $ }" O* @. D4 Y$ J( p4 c5 Q# y6 a6 K8 k( w
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) * m" n" k2 q; R% D; n% K& H$ I2 M( R2 U, 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!). Q* z' S0 |5 m, c
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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) ! ]5 G! L, l" U$ B& D' @ ' x3 Q; q9 j- 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。)& ~2 G5 n% g, M! ~ b
+ c/ F; Z" i2 }, f" Z# |3 \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?)) W# g, \" N* |; Y
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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!5 n, ^( V6 m" p) p: @4 q
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Y/ ~# Q& z2 \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。 3 S0 Z! m' D5 s) m2 c' Z / x8 d9 C, k3 c" t; m8 H5 N例如: 8 Z! O* u7 D( Q {; M k $ ?# v) q0 X8 x. V7 y0 t2 r9 u8 kAt 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) , a/ G p/ z+ {: `9 {% k $ M# d" e! C+ C1 O) Q, yDespite 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) Q5 t8 `5 M% O9 i( I7 r# z4 e! K: R' o* P7 j1 n
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) # s& M! q* t% v' [9 R3 i) A( q3 f' B- Q5 e3 l: f
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)$ X+ h( p4 i$ M/ ?5 s' I1 E
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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) 1 b* Z4 [. c) B4 s3 `6 W! h 3 C4 A1 b; B1 r) ~- _5 iShe 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)8 m7 K5 \1 p) p8 Z+ H3 _ I! ]' R
. C9 ]0 G p& \6 w* d0 R o6 iI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)' X3 P% y) b1 d+ x
# `$ s$ W: u3 T$ D- G" 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:, y4 E+ M6 L7 T0 j5 @! _
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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。) 9 z; D3 F: J- w- k1 r' `& E" L F0 |) f" 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.) ) S9 P7 i B5 o) o p* M2 {9 E( ] 1 l0 t1 E. d" S! PHe 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。)8 Q2 w' x. p; a% J
7 F+ P" _' l) Q* m4 sHe 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) 0 F( }' m- O3 E. U4 d7 H1 x8 a% I6 i* {, e3 f0 j
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) % g, b) ~% C5 Q4 n& j! s1 h$ t6 `) }4 T; R
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) 2 w8 z9 R* T: s0 G+ I ) Z# ~8 X2 C& [. o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.), V/ x6 r) N0 C1 \
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 8 W8 R7 Q# Y3 |& ]* H8 X ; g$ j4 `7 z0 r9 B$ q* \) ^ t5 A& H' j; |& [# M3.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」。" @6 r: n( b$ `9 `) g# T# o3 R+ z# |
, P6 g- {4 p5 [# M oMankind 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)/ ~- u8 s, @2 p( D/ F9 P3 T1 U! Q
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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) 8 E- A; d h; z. c3 ^# N# I% I7 P! [$ U& `& \5 R* ^
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)- u" A4 S# e7 C
/ z, m3 A; N, l7 Z' ~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 q( A- `8 |4 Z
4 Z; @: f' _0 L# @4 [7 iMany 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。)" H+ n6 r, B: | O. x, @
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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) - x2 C% A- D& m5 Y& o+ y% L, }9 x c4 B O# v+ T
Congressmen (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) W% ^, L9 u% b- n& d
% U0 _( _- w6 E+ J) J) 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。) 7 ^& I) N2 r/ c0 O6 W& Q" z( ]7 v% x7 R* h7 X
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。% H: g5 s: a" X) l
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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: _" a) r6 h v4 v i, C% C \: H! S/ c5 o1 s7 ]( i
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; & j7 `+ {3 f e$ b$ [ X2 `) ]) h) `
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;+ q& t. a+ i& ?0 S! b" X& |) b0 }
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; : y, W7 u0 P# U B8 Z; L& A* M8 F! I( _4 l2 d4 f, ]
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;0 }0 u7 Q" M I- x+ z$ v
8 t# w. U! O, c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: 1 q- X6 _5 k$ w" Q+ P ( j7 R# V. l' t' W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)。 : [* W# s2 a4 A+ |/ `; Y8 `) J' ?$ g+ b2 `1 K
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 f9 ?% ^" n* ?3 o