+ A7 w6 a" E* a# K6 \' o, o* P例如: 0 p+ M! e+ C& N$ j% ? ( r c4 a, F0 ~1 p4 [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) # J) W( I5 l9 M1 n) Y3 Q* f 3 g/ V) D, p: c' K4 AThree 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。) ) m! d, I6 }2 D# o K- E; h( }" W' o4 O8 \# W+ i( Y6 O& T
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) * l1 d. z3 C; J/ L, B3 U. [3 _ v) M( @7 j
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?) & c/ n x7 u2 B0 z) n% F 5 m1 H& U) p/ N$ p9 a2 h1 m# _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。)# D! a N8 h* u" d1 H) p! A5 `
+ {4 h* T' s5 u' s2 P1 lMr. 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) ; N, d! T8 Z# |9 P5 h" t0 L( w4 e' B! B+ `& p5 j+ a
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!) 1 w; Z( |, l% `$ A- Q) l2 d- j8 m% k7 o! U+ v
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) 1 |1 V: m1 L# r' S- C, G5 T% ~ u2 J0 M. G
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。)& j5 C; t$ Y/ J% v$ i7 w
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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?)0 b; D* ]& d7 Z" V) u. G
( M' n8 u7 }+ }6 r) A7 D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 m( g& ]7 f. s% E
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, @6 C( N5 D: u9 }$ q, d" h' 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。& }' B9 h! M' `( v# N8 y6 N
% ?* f; y1 _/ k9 w例如: & C" c# P0 F0 j. M# c, l/ U& A0 {5 a2 T( [% l2 H
At 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) 2 T9 g1 h* H' j1 | 8 t5 I* o5 T( Q7 `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 M& Z0 ^( l9 c" [; Y! x7 g
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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) - F0 _( [8 v2 { ( e8 o! ~1 n0 w6 \& M* `1 MHe 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 H3 T/ n3 o' v: G" D
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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)* M9 R: m |, i: R
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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)9 s# e; `' |" c3 p8 k/ l
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) % }# Q0 t, C$ V% z, p1 t7 T# m" t; ~ B% r4 }! B8 E l; E
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: 4 V( C( r/ k6 o9 p# N4 i! r8 C" G Y( n- }& O o9 c
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。) . D8 i! s( k3 l8 `3 J' P % X6 {9 T" ~0 M ?# KThe 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.) & V) h- g2 J( F' f3 ^; r" n3 O' J" k; ^- Z
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 i8 _: K& j) I' Z/ W
4 a2 M8 N4 ?* d( J" ^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) $ B2 _& U* ]: `8 c2 z; N4 H* V / X% ~6 b( M9 j/ W+ ?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) 3 N1 b+ l7 \0 }0 W4 e: u , I* c5 l1 C& G& kEnclosed (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)7 d. w/ @: @; O* \% u# g
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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.) + Q$ |, F* M% a# B6 N- c; y % K+ B7 H* D' `& s: e, P" p此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。$ g6 E: Y3 z6 q. o0 V2 N
8 k$ F' e; |$ K( K* i' Y( j& 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」。1 i/ y; q" n3 z4 t: l
0 A% k' N4 ^- |$ ~例如:& T, `. C3 H5 ^0 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); }6 J- z) A t% A2 i* C% ]+ k
# k3 e! x% ]6 C9 c& ^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) 5 H3 `% q( A& \8 A8 n9 | 0 T' s) ] }( t! \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)$ {! I) e5 }9 b
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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。) q3 H" K9 b$ z( Q3 h) `! g
( Y, a2 s2 k. @9 d: VMany 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。) J* c$ I, r+ `( d- t4 s# }
8 T5 P4 e. a0 G9 IPolicemen (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)& I3 w; x' e7 s% @4 T
v) R) v* \6 [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)$ v: i' t+ k( Z2 _/ W
9 Q" ^, r" i5 x* S- q: Q% oStewardesses 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。) 8 Y9 F. M9 o* b, o, }1 r9 `1 Z) d5 y$ @. U( ] n9 ]) R
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。 " `( l6 I5 R+ J$ V8 O8 ^& | " m, d$ A( \, j- i9 S& m; u" g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: 5 t( C# K7 o1 `3 }6 w4 |9 I2 r% U' L2 }: q4 X$ i' v
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; + F- U3 d# I! z1 v7 N# j* r , h+ D. w x: m6 ^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; . K ?1 d# G$ v5 s" K d. a3 e4 x/ _: Z# @
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;- `" q8 E1 N* b; v) q
) \/ [, o0 p) A8 t; m# s对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;' J0 B: C2 A3 l
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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: 0 Q s. ?" _' X% N4 Q/ f8 z: S7 } q \+ M7 n3 ]! Y
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)。 % x, h6 r+ I7 J3 c2 f @7 L; y6 c; s 7 r: o' m" j K' m) l' g9 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)。 6 J3 _8 i, n7 [% o9 n