2 a/ C+ h5 j4 a- V1 P7 ~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)* h y2 L. Z; h" S" W- v2 C
% l% T! h) y( J- }8 Q0 X2 rThree 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。) 2 j2 i6 u! f' U& j* n4 X g' s$ T7 f' W, S1 a5 Z
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)1 @7 O% C0 O/ x. c6 T& T
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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?) / Y3 ]% s* h( k! k; \/ l1 W5 f, l: `, O; e; ?
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。)8 Q) B! l9 }6 [4 A# M
, D8 I. s* o8 C+ p0 y& K0 xMr. 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)7 _. Z9 r- t$ N) P6 q
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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!) + f0 x( K' A! O( ~: f / w D J- c& r* CThe 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)2 K( q6 f; `( d5 w5 D) t7 h
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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。) 9 n2 Q4 l; L* ~3 `3 x W4 e # L1 h/ `, m! WPlease 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?)$ S' I' T, `6 Q
+ j# Y, n& i1 T# v/ H; ]' |: S0 R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! ( r8 Y2 i" n$ O3 ]" M/ v/ m* B# J- P" S3 {1 c
! `5 h9 Y. C' ?2 q7 Y7 O# N2. 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。 ! j& f$ p5 m4 ]2 {1 [8 | / H4 R; g3 _+ D1 A" J例如:( ^9 _8 e' ], e m
) V6 U$ N6 S. l& O VAt 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) 5 {$ r' g1 N- k5 i ! g( m9 D! p& s, k& t |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) ) x R( O; X) N3 e1 {, P# z; s% W% O- P6 U( r3 `+ k
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) * j3 Q' l3 X- z 1 p. \6 c$ T1 M5 P& J1 `5 jHe 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) + J7 d0 G6 v6 F " {# b0 V6 Y1 O3 H6 Y/ B5 FIn 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)! t& C9 G% k; u$ r+ M* |$ I
- u7 ^$ m! C. U5 d& \2 F$ n. 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) , ]+ H& ^3 W! V . B0 g |% s+ y# J3 B" s; I% aI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)* ^& v% s: |3 T0 K" s' K: A7 z1 u0 _
- R" D" D% U* _; s- g1 l, ?! f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:' k2 H1 k+ j9 ~; b2 ~- ?
" A! k( |# Z+ n# 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。) / z$ d* T; T; n1 L0 {* E) m2 V) X( J/ k" r+ O! r% o$ \
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.) * S& {9 a5 r! J6 n1 O* S + r1 n! B& [0 x. }+ }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。) 4 E: a3 L$ j7 _ 4 k, `8 d$ v1 ]& Z9 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): }/ {. ~7 f( [6 o! o" Y7 T
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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) * R# Z; T1 ]5 q3 s! F d3 j; D* j* n2 Q8 BEnclosed (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)6 ]! u9 ~2 M. m9 |5 ^6 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.)% a6 ?7 M& k* l# ]
* A9 {/ D3 H( ~此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。% S) o8 [) h$ x, D* ?
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0 c2 m- h: R- v9 J! m5 U k1 u3.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」。 ! f4 r+ V% y/ V; @( L$ F% r1 s! R3 G
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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)" A6 l9 }9 m: o. F3 ~
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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) 9 E+ z9 ^! _* C . f F7 |' M, |/ S2 x1 XThis 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) & D) e: e, W v8 ^" U f. |" | ( J h! }1 o0 t7 `3 l, f3 AHe (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。) . E; X6 G7 z) v8 A, s, ?) }/ W, v3 o+ t4 C1 k5 H
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。)& o3 ?, a: f2 K7 G" A# H, M
z/ `; u1 s0 b% U+ M+ BPolicemen (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)+ C* Y5 H' v" {) T3 j2 s. Z( `
5 w. c6 t- b4 zCongressmen (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), G! H4 Y; f7 P4 [/ ^) R* Q$ F
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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。)* a4 x7 M. t( x7 h3 l& b
( r9 p* }# U5 G. Y" r! b' B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。+ d+ v: g3 h; r! |, a
3 q( c5 W% d7 O" l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:1 X* C7 J( c/ [! J
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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; 0 Q7 v6 b% G% ?( R* x5 s2 ?' C+ w6 e
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;* p- f6 v: p; C1 i
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 7 [$ E0 S0 z$ B% i5 D7 K' D3 ~1 p. C/ x% z5 y8 h/ G- o; a
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;2 ^4 U8 l/ q! y J1 f6 Y" E
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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: / s, k. H" g1 l# h! _ 4 d, s7 E R4 M4 Z( q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)。 8 `" ~' I; y( G2 X i) A# k. ~% P: f! q1 E3 m" \# z
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)。 T. F* \* b5 ^1 ^8 p