" ^/ \: Y0 L' ]3 S, T例如:% j5 z5 a' i4 G
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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) ; W- ]3 L2 _0 j- p9 u2 r7 X; q4 D$ s6 Q4 s/ B [0 D
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。)1 m2 o& j; d) o% S7 H# P
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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)1 M, ~) n7 X8 j" `- K' O4 L a
2 `6 R: A0 {0 L- S! m" p0 X7 AThe 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?)2 o% J( o$ C: B( }
% o* f4 v7 G. q0 m3 |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 o8 ~9 F9 a! S+ v4 L
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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)* n3 ^6 z0 C) h- p: ]( z1 k$ `( J
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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!)" i& T8 ]* H' O' J
6 i3 I9 l- }/ a( k6 g* y( X; SThe 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 H! S) a4 Z; `8 t0 g, [
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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。) , a @& a5 l8 M- a - S$ @' Z9 ^) x9 {3 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?) , [. @+ M5 Z4 y ~" r! M+ x! n8 j/ N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! ! ]# N# ]9 m8 I5 e; y * H' E! a; m0 }; Q+ z% s; L$ H$ D4 [% A. T6 H3 q6 u7 z4 l( `1 U 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。 0 ?7 F+ v, W3 c- {% L. { " y2 A8 Y+ o( h! b; E: x$ o$ M例如:$ r1 O% x/ V* D. j
" g9 w6 T: t3 g" a2 QAt 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)' F9 E. l' ?6 Y2 B
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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) 0 ^2 T3 T3 X- M! h* _5 R3 f # ^! Y) x4 \# q; `0 `$ s7 y! r/ KI 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) 0 y: h' ?$ x U: e " q: z( ]8 X; R' m/ O) z# y# j. IHe 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$ |6 k8 h4 O* O, Z2 r
M) z8 g4 V1 RIn 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)" g& F) ~) b) O% d6 J
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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)% |3 V o$ J+ m% e; h# [3 L
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)9 L( c+ }5 Q" ^, Y6 ^& r$ f4 }
/ i0 X0 }4 R' S) c0 h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:* m* v4 k7 A# L* V. q( C
: X1 y Q9 c* l x( x5 sThe 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。) : ~; G e! P. s) r4 j- [* Y# D( n# {4 R: Q" f+ w1 a' N
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.)# M5 b+ X; M: s7 q1 q7 {6 K
7 x' A7 h8 S: nHe 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。)& T) F: k5 j! [+ B
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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) ! t/ L! ]" @- o( [; g5 R & D' a% U1 x2 C& p" l5 iWe 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): e, a, E6 q* b/ Y" U3 P: P
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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)' m5 ^8 M" y% i- J0 x' Q
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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.) / I4 K1 h8 {8 {3 W2 w ; A1 [/ w/ W% ?2 x0 Q此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 " f( d% J" E7 t: b# R; z9 K$ [" p5 S) v
" e% Q+ T3 l* ^ \8 r: _3 T* A( W3.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」。 4 ?# A% k9 ~- @; @8 g# w- _; V2 Y$ y$ M( p
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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)8 W4 e1 A3 }5 |2 [ I% B4 j! K* A3 o
. Q3 a1 r3 P0 J9 j, V; k* U! XManpower 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) , u9 C, }5 K2 [9 H! I% Y3 K 7 q0 o$ `( S! n" z, ]) w. `; r" iThis 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)" q/ z( o* o- c
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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。). g2 t6 T4 I' C+ N3 Y; i$ ~8 ?
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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。)$ y' K' B$ |' d" x8 Y3 u
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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)$ h3 Z" ^/ e# Y7 y! n
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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)! ^* P( a1 @/ j6 D
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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。)* z& G9 l# w& [7 j
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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。; ?6 v) H& G. Y! e# r' U3 W
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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: ' j7 S# j: s; a' D( `1 Z # A9 V* |% j+ @- J6 [$ X* E2 ]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;6 u$ `9 j$ T# R& ?
X6 {+ t3 Z) P) Q5 f9 t* _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;9 n+ w1 _0 {" z# X! V Z, j' W( h
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;: J0 f8 U* h- c+ d
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; % Q3 P1 d" ?4 ]/ k" U1 ~- C7 d# N
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:$ P; Z( {% x7 I( Q
! l( J0 T# u0 w4 v V; g: T/ P0 N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)。- e5 ?5 l- R9 _/ b A8 P, l2 Z' C
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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)。8 O. |2 E4 k5 [9 D9 L* D9 Q- }. d