1 G0 ]& T# j; x9 kMany 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) 2 t- ^9 n, Z9 v/ `+ e9 h5 s + u. m* g z( q3 TThree 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。)8 S* T- ~4 R& 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)6 ]; C E% e2 M6 t, h, E
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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?) ' ~& b0 F6 M+ C, @0 L% o / z3 c$ y1 p8 l R9 R7 ]& UI 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。)1 n3 M& e1 d' j8 t& v0 y; n
* N4 s" d2 r( F( AMr. 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)* |5 Q" t3 q5 ^7 f& L
% \" Z" G% q4 [8 }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!) ! d$ O" U5 {6 V7 w+ {- i! l! n3 K- ~4 R( p2 t$ R) }/ Q9 }
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)+ G' W f6 z: z' y6 H. v
: C j& M) W: \, \% 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。) 5 F2 L5 |( M6 C6 l$ r* X ) f$ e- f9 y. \; {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?) + D% _0 K5 }8 m8 a/ D8 {$ d * C' B) x; M6 m5 O1 y( ~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!0 Q* O- _! y9 |# g( R
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9 |* h# L: i" w* Q' z% ?. F 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。) k# W, q+ Q; w* v! |
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例如:2 B$ ^8 d3 O% D
+ Y) l1 E' z( D, eAt 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)0 [, N; m& y/ {, k
8 c$ l! k7 E/ sDespite 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) $ A, M# \9 D# ? Y1 ] 7 t8 Y$ y- C) s3 r8 I) r; [+ |- D, 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) " e3 E+ H5 j% \- V6 H , a m. K, T3 J' FHe 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)1 }( Z" M8 E9 D( m6 ^: O: q" G: i
2 L5 y% f; o* C" p0 EIn 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)( u ? t( v. R/ g$ i4 u
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She 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): q$ ]0 ^ e/ E3 Z
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) . I" t6 Q( X% x2 k* @5 L6 r/ t4 a8 W5 q9 U: T9 i+ q. A
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: # u [$ R7 [0 x+ K) ]2 @' D9 n) j: T s& l$ f8 b0 |7 d
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。)3 m. m4 c5 G' O8 x0 p
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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.) 0 k0 [5 f' Y' L. M: ?* E& C8 I0 I; Y; u7 @4 l* O! R( r% i4 S2 V
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。) ! ^9 N* f$ L# x9 \8 { 9 k0 M: Q0 @; PHe 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) 5 `8 q& o+ U% _" G) r( \, T& p0 y1 p( z7 V C' k( S
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), [9 h) q! [" L- e
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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) # }' [6 t+ l4 c c b Q' x7 R: V* [0 o. `- j3 `4 `4 G* p' V
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.)9 t w4 P8 [6 y& b. m/ ^8 n/ R9 F
D8 S. `* H3 G) s- f% w4 ~0 N此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 2 V* _4 Q- B% C8 U+ N9 d# x8 S5 `- g3 W( B# ^
1 A& C$ X0 U& v* `) L 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」。 ) ~* k9 h8 U8 M9 _5 i% l; _; O- [* u8 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)% V, j/ H+ c9 |0 M3 B' ^
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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)0 H" |0 G- ~$ F, ^
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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)7 L) S& j1 S5 x V( N: L5 @
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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。) * S! _! A3 S8 Z- b: D Q$ ?! z & G4 p' B6 Z8 ~0 GMany 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。)- i9 s; ~5 n8 y) ^) V
2 U3 ]2 ~/ V$ O; 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), c4 j7 `; @/ h5 U
, a' o" }0 O2 W$ z9 `4 @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)9 M$ A' `; t- U6 k
4 B! L# h( T$ X. e! P3 wStewardesses 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。)2 ?# b+ x" I$ u! a3 l( R( s
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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。 / c. x- z4 v! \9 m' w" G2 | 7 P( [! C+ r# 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:, ]2 F3 z- K9 U: P$ M7 A6 Q
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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;5 I8 G1 u. S9 x4 S( i
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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; ; D1 {2 W3 y- h. h0 h* s8 U4 O. n+ J' L+ g; o) E- i! J( b
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; / L/ i' i; r4 ~, K5 ?2 a3 M. m0 L. o 0 S2 O: C+ { J" e0 ?对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ! J' z% S& E+ m; n, n( a g l) ? [* F6 P/ K
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: * T+ A9 l7 s4 i& r# G, 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)。 @9 S: @ m m& {
7 h8 X# \. i7 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)。 1 I; z: H9 V: J Y6 t