: Y$ L, o" M; D4 p x- J/ 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) 7 J3 o4 L# c3 t0 Q+ g- t9 A / u; x5 ]- m2 l& eThree 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 W$ V8 y7 ^8 K& T+ B % O( ]! L$ a& R& }' ^9 `+ F" hThis 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)( G2 p3 v ~/ e+ h
' S' ^% L# r. z9 s( o" l3 g
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?) 1 s. d0 O$ Y$ }+ K/ o 2 w- d3 O. E) ~/ P; |: O( ? h- BI 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。) . E! m0 s }8 m- V; h 0 k$ g4 V( z x9 P; TMr. 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) ' A }, W5 X: e& p9 B2 [ O( A1 y& e( b8 O) [
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!) 4 [* S$ X* ^4 M0 \* ` 8 _0 \ E# ~7 C3 pThe 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)* m$ V6 [9 }( O Y- r$ _2 j
; e. W. K! j# I7 ?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。)! s! k1 f3 V8 ]7 y* O
4 H/ P3 Z- R/ F _+ n! Y$ h
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?)& y Y: D6 ~; o
) z0 \4 n5 ~' i1 \2 f
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!9 \" @# ~$ J$ A( \1 M; z
" g7 n" l6 X" J$ i
3 R" \6 Q3 v2 f4 D2. 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。 4 l) O4 p. ]- _ 6 h. b5 f5 D L+ h l" X8 G例如: : s! G& k4 N; \! |* m, s9 J! _3 j6 F' L
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) ; d; N. I. s# ]3 @2 U/ D( Z) ^/ e
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) 6 a9 D: B7 ]! A4 b B' i: P , H; p, i+ v7 B. J' wI 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)3 P& a- M$ ~* X0 E8 I2 g0 P. | \7 |
h* t `7 s' z) Y; i3 p4 G. d
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) ' c' g% a; [1 k: _& O8 X: z+ ^+ t0 ^; Y: a0 o' E1 [
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) * Y) B* v# H+ n3 O) V- q6 m/ q; b/ J
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)' G# {2 T0 E+ d- w- k
) ~! R! Y2 r% C6 d4 kI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)" c# S% |' I8 x7 m6 V3 y% s
8 x; ^% H# Y Q M, J. n! 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: 3 x7 u9 j. v6 y. [7 F 5 Z" u% A0 p; v$ f# A: [0 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。) , R6 g( v+ c! }1 ~- F6 Z5 O5 r) ^# ~# O6 w0 i. c7 w
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.) . a% r6 M+ x5 `) Q( m, N$ p' o) l# e
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 s4 o3 A( w! g+ c+ K, Z, c
' O# K1 z8 h& d8 h: d
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) 2 ]- e1 V0 P4 u3 m' @8 t 1 [) P: Z2 a, P: y, y! DWe 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)+ z2 u. x5 E% t$ d+ R# c* n' \
; T+ w/ s4 I2 o/ x/ b. ^! I
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, S1 o2 m, r0 _ 9 }3 |5 l: d' r+ D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 p( g6 w% v" b! }/ W$ W4 J* C
/ L" D( ^. \: H9 a2 Q% X此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 # F& o) g d X# y% u3 P T& G2 M
1 ]9 J, b) f3 J3 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」。% l& d: C) T$ X5 X; a5 g
, B$ V$ b- o1 a$ e: k | }7 G例如:/ u% Q' ]0 i; W) N+ S
, E1 p* |' R" Q4 l. \7 c
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)& |1 E M _, J! U V) O" c
5 T7 a( r1 l1 j2 ~& z4 Q$ b3 P( o
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) 6 h1 j( [8 z; u" j7 y. q' q. i# P" p- W* |# {5 h7 g3 Z
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) ( u8 M5 J8 s2 m1 G' M {! G# X( Q 1 [- }1 r9 Z% ~/ b) cHe (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。)& e) S. |1 p8 u
7 |* g w% Q. R' u: E2 v0 l* D( bMany 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。) 5 w# e* I4 N) k8 J g. O' y: D, g0 G/ W9 G9 X. m
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) ! `* C1 ]- w8 a( p+ m; C7 i/ q. g" h" J1 T* ]& \4 u
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)) R* G& W. f7 I. X$ I K
, b1 X# F& h# {& Z" D* c( F9 }/ c8 ^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。) * k5 W7 w* {* J1 X7 _5 N1 L9 f( S7 ~/ R; M" ]! d) P
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。$ h6 j/ s6 {4 k& G& {
5 X% o8 P0 |0 Y- S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: 8 G1 b* x3 r6 ] 8 I$ i, f8 w/ J1 o' Q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;/ w) h8 _2 S; S% E
& ^+ ]/ y! ]) A3 S; `1 M
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; ' e( L2 w7 ?( D7 w& t$ }$ D/ B7 T) s9 u# M5 K. P7 z9 ^, r5 q
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;& r8 J7 D) r; Z
1 W; U0 B% }. S4 N1 V* X: O ]
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ; I5 h) `/ @, g( _6 q; z! l1 N M+ L" M* C% a( N. J
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:; | {4 O4 R; y, [) b
8 D3 O% V# @# Q9 r( O
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)。6 @, w |( A) V2 m$ u
* A, y @% J+ g( o6 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)。 8 u& v+ |1 x' e