3 Z( E2 R) M! r! j4 ], e8 OMany 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) 3 _3 z" T* X% h9 o ! P4 a7 S1 T8 E$ ?2 n; \2 LThree 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。) 5 C/ V$ u( ?3 |. [( p0 I/ ~2 X" c$ x: m8 L6 V: @
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) 7 |0 X% s2 `5 Z1 x* ? * |9 w( d! C5 H8 t& @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?) 8 Q# U2 t' S- w K: p- w; K ( T* Y. ?* v ~% iI 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。) - ]5 ^, d( z1 H 1 F d5 ~, T: }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)) l' N: r" p0 R: A
8 [" U" O4 K4 x4 n% l8 N: ^" BWe 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!)- p# o( _4 P: ]# \4 H
- s }. V) m4 P( b. j$ A1 mThe 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) 0 f; z0 Q/ l, Q6 O7 S, b, l' |* R; Y/ l' s! A/ z
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。), N( u- z" ?: k% \
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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?) S9 s5 v* K/ s# l; @
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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! 0 H( i( x' }, l: ? O! S- g- K ! Q! J! K! o' P% P+ X7 H2 F8 D+ X$ [- Y/ |4 v 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。 9 Z3 P0 D% |3 Z. f. w " z" K! b- ^6 B/ ?& R) J% f3 ~例如:. a k0 r4 r7 Q; g4 w. U
5 H2 E" Z$ H: O5 c7 wAt 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) 4 d0 p% K( V: r |8 X7 h# Y , o3 a5 I: H, a) p% |9 aDespite 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) / F) k3 y( m2 h 0 ]5 O2 o$ j6 O- v, S" FI 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) 8 k; v0 B. G+ o* x9 z9 X1 w3 T' K& { A& O4 `3 Y
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) ' {4 d2 d4 _3 Q% P6 Y. L$ b) B* {4 d
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) 8 v0 C3 g3 ~9 P, H5 p8 l0 i) F. ]9 y9 M3 t
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)6 Y. I% z0 i) I+ A
: G9 r% M& C( g }I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)# J9 m& |* J0 P1 k, U+ ?6 |
* Q) l" y2 T1 j( M2 X' ?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: : x9 p; l" u# G; @, H 4 a) W9 L3 O. {* b# v* T' uThe 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。) @8 c3 \! a0 R9 e& V/ U( M
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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.) * M& U, C Y4 I5 p6 a* i ; P3 m$ L5 V" \: Y+ |) qHe 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 j7 R5 ^9 _2 ?* v & J/ F7 w$ p3 M5 n1 T8 j4 ^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) 1 Q( X4 z& r1 _5 q1 i! S% O& w6 i/ w5 J; C4 S8 J2 A! ?6 I. f
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)" y. K% r8 E' H4 j3 [8 `
% q4 O$ P* p: f( }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) % P% i {" R1 a% Z$ H8 X B0 ~- U' t
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.)6 R3 A l" U" _* U- {& R, W: P
% F% U$ r) z g, O% i8 P" y- l此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! X, ^7 Y/ ~# T8 N f' P. W
& |2 W! X6 @: \3 s, D' D" T* Y* q0 w0 T# u- { 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」。( x6 I \3 a* Z$ U. H1 R
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例如: * H; o5 q1 l+ z) p6 v 6 @. M' B7 z- I7 o2 ZMankind 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)+ o; z4 _' O! c8 j( s0 l0 e
6 h' ^1 h5 V4 m& T: OManpower 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): p9 H1 ]8 o: p& F' ]7 o
* @2 L+ H: I6 O3 t Z' O2 i/ ?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)" P1 E3 `9 b. \+ a( e& g% k. Z i" {
: A0 q: B2 t O/ w' [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。) }$ z9 q/ J o: D * W' t N: `; s+ O W. dMany 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。)" @7 l+ b9 q9 |5 ]) q* k
! T2 W- t- b i+ Z @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) " c( ~* i2 R7 p+ I. m1 v 2 b3 k. h) E0 t% G$ q" p( K' CCongressmen (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) 3 g" w& e8 m# ]$ w5 h R1 _- V5 ]/ c/ SStewardesses 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。)/ |. C$ t- B: H* i
: b) G1 E! C1 d3 B4 O: t- {1 K l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( o/ V, L: I/ h: Q; _7 w9 T) j, W7 {3 L+ P- r7 Y. {) W# j
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: 0 [3 b3 R& I* s9 i& s! _8 N* B- l
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 e, ]9 n' g1 B9 r* h$ e