4 G+ T* J6 T3 _1 pMany 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) % b* u5 Z$ M; ?: D4 s; o9 t7 z 9 n& F: h4 l: r3 A- cThree 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。)% v- N/ X# U3 e. B9 T
, \6 m1 C0 T; \4 ^$ E- B! z0 WThis 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)8 O0 U( x5 Z1 {
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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?) 5 l0 @" j: u( e. | 5 q$ L7 k+ v0 `+ j+ A- U" a8 y' FI 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。) 4 @" K2 G) Z/ ] 7 s! F: s5 u; @+ B4 oMr. 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 ^5 A1 k6 ?% k9 V* C# W
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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!) / b' y/ A$ e1 N : Y ?/ l$ l5 l8 IThe 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 Q& L" X. K( Q
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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。) ) Q( G; K+ Z( j. ~ . L) l9 m; ]* ^" jPlease 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?)/ Q' S9 t, d; N) }( r M$ R# S/ V5 x
5 C8 F3 S6 U; p3 J: W; E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!; S; B3 k r" k5 m8 _9 X: [0 n
. v9 Q K% B0 a0 D2 Y8 ^6 g' M) Y1 A0 l4 p. ^ 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。3 K# A) X7 ^0 S8 M
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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) % n3 r+ E6 y; c! @ f8 \9 y9 \3 K & p3 X% p* b; L! }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)/ `8 B% K. @; m' y8 m A5 [* [- u% G
. w! W- D2 ?. Y9 g( A9 H8 l3 aI 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) 5 B+ Q$ l9 ~# J& l% n( t- T. C7 H) k/ r
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): W& u9 |9 T5 u5 [; _9 c) k
# Z9 I+ S; U* t& z: X. S- BIn 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) # T2 ^4 D* p7 Q8 h 6 i1 _& r; y# _- |, Y. rShe 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) & \% ]+ n s4 K3 p# z( [+ }: l) ]9 \- U) V+ \7 g% C7 ^+ @
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)7 O2 X% P- @) z, P5 A" B- F7 B
& J& e7 Z% y8 u% d3 D5 r" L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: {2 h! w _$ N8 K" Q9 N( U/ P& |$ q7 j; l% O# `
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。) ( `5 c: V+ t& I5 G e" h9 ~: F1 l1 oThe 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.); R4 ~. p+ [/ i W% G' [/ o
) i1 k8 q9 e9 H; w( u# k+ g& 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。)) {+ ^4 t# ^0 U/ c1 T% y, M2 @9 w
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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) ( A7 B# \$ J3 ], u+ x 6 `! {7 Z6 k' O- g3 EWe 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) . B7 N; @3 G& g9 t) \* R Q; U! X2 w" T% t O% e& R
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)+ w( L. Y1 O/ g: T$ U. B# ?- 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.) . o8 u4 P5 g: P& o( Y& f, K. _ , y% D8 m( Z3 s7 _此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" }+ w) }9 u% ^
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6 ~: ~* Q8 ]% E& C# i3.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」。; D' X4 P8 n" \# B0 `
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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 n5 P" ^' E: p. ~
& O3 V1 H4 S, V& VManpower 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)4 p1 p1 H" E0 k
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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) 8 p7 t* v; G/ k6 t9 R' H3 M. T6 W+ {1 z# d# x6 O
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。)* O6 J. ]0 Q, `" h/ U7 O% j+ P
( I& S, o0 \) w1 I6 JMany 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。)% x2 S( M% K- o
( u3 {, l' m" m' 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) : Y" W8 n6 w! Z0 z* p8 {, s% P4 n% b% V
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) 7 `: o. z0 j' N* O& |' f" P# P2 ]! r2 V0 a2 A/ f
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。) 2 N5 [# I" `) M& J7 D" _1 v ; r2 k( j/ S( L. [6 j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% @7 ?5 ?) [" I, T2 U4 n) P1 v6 h; w( r
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:- R4 |* R3 w- A( @( T8 r7 x7 D
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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;' R5 T& g" `2 [2 x
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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; & x6 K1 `, {3 @( m0 n4 ] 9 a1 P) |5 b" y c. \: X2 z1 y; J对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;5 R6 F; u7 U+ c+ y8 I. u
) P2 q; K# b% _: Y6 w1 Z3 I5 g对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; & G2 X' E, H; K) c) j& M l5 v% l* f- Q5 ]
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: B" b# i* U; y7 \
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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)。 2 v8 n: I s. h7 B o" ?. Q6 E8 C, J6 k6 b4 W# T$ q9 d
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)。: m S* S2 ^! s7 y4 v# A