; C1 e5 `! ]2 M% ZMany 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) ; I$ g2 m. Z3 o$ I4 t$ a5 Y- r$ n: q% V f: d1 Q
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。) 2 W$ N4 \. h3 ~; A/ q4 o5 }, f6 T1 F' S" @, F& X* h% ?7 \
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)6 t# f0 u6 A: ?, C( O
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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?) , ?: G& v) e. ^! p% v( K% c, u( ~$ Q
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。) : b6 `9 Z% m" a% t1 i% v" R" X2 r0 T& X. ]* c
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)8 T! b# ~( `& a1 N* a7 ~! ]- |
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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!) & O3 }' g0 A" r9 W + b8 G& f( L& N# s+ T4 Q" \& Q8 D- WThe 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). ?, E' m; A/ o4 |! N
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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。) 1 u$ L; I+ I4 W. k: `( I' {7 Y2 x( k6 ` S
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?)' z1 f2 l+ ]7 t$ E1 R; X/ I
& W0 r9 U! A& 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!( p2 C) B/ w: j8 u
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( {0 {6 A9 M$ n0 L. M7 i2. 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。 / [. S- b! Q, t; T! i& _7 v+ \ 4 y3 K: y8 Q! l例如:, \; M! [! R& h8 w/ R/ U
( Y5 W- N, @9 c0 Y# OAt 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) , [- W* Z( y) {5 `& v. g, U6 ~0 Y; U f$ V5 D" }# D( K. U
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) # t, d8 }# a: r, c; U# w3 K3 U! N$ p* [
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)+ w2 Y! U) k" O8 B4 ^
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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)- _3 e. t, A0 G- M
7 m+ i/ k. v9 c% vIn 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)( f7 Z, ~7 O' F7 J0 c) V! l r4 u
# X e/ o; J: {4 O9 R0 YShe 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) 7 A/ v. G M/ M$ R1 I 5 Y% y2 R! |) J" c! RI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 1 r0 f4 L; q$ N" T Y4 @4 N * z. o B) g* {, o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: 1 G, ]$ ?% Z$ k4 q% o 5 K; O d" O4 v' f+ L3 }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。)0 g5 }+ y& D- \# ] c
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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.) $ F, }& d! Q1 J, C8 `5 t1 F h0 w) o5 `5 F2 }, L7 o* d3 r
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。)0 U' a1 s: i$ F3 m/ J! h
/ |+ I1 E* m G; G" h5 n: SHe 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)# u$ y3 J8 v. M1 V0 @
' V' s4 w5 W/ ]1 [! C* V( SWe 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) % J. p: G& P9 j5 f8 x6 ~, P" N8 U- ~6 B
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) / \; q5 C; h+ l* ]/ S& P0 z2 G6 ?/ C: i5 M/ U I0 x* O
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.) ; ~" J2 |1 G0 M+ J& e* R& F+ ^" N6 G9 u+ M1 Z+ g Z( K4 `7 P; Q
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 / U) S) j& r2 g6 B u$ Y# Y/ C9 Y7 s9 y, J& t( v
7 a1 u* \, M; [2 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」。 ) _4 o4 H( @- b6 Y- z: I u& h& C+ d B* a1 P* k% x
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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)# t# v. m* V$ I( X9 d% k
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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)+ f9 k2 F4 O9 D# d/ j( {
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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) , n! x0 Z! |* D$ v, J# t( d' J' ] ! W9 d# W- H1 V8 GHe (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。) 9 s4 g) z9 v1 C! {( P8 u1 D' S/ s- g# C( n9 J' d' B# J! J' d) Q
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。) , q, G# u: ~4 \! S B6 }" H ) J3 l2 U! Y% J0 DPolicemen (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)1 {5 u+ q! U! T) e( j J( V% F
( t! S$ \! G" D3 u. XCongressmen (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)/ [8 R' M. N \* ~; Z3 c& }
, _" x& i8 a4 g9 t ?/ |" AStewardesses 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。) 1 p) o. m' r4 ]/ M% ~/ b+ z2 p( a5 m 1 g4 Q7 X4 |9 E$ e# ^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。 i2 v5 I7 h7 p" x2 y( c7 Y * Z ]0 D# c$ Y5 q7 M- q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: , O h% A! } s* r$ Q0 K- h9 W# u: G6 J/ D
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; , I$ e7 x+ I' U- S9 i 9 i8 Q3 y- m7 g% D0 F; S p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; 5 C. p4 _3 r4 v- N! D" t. i4 Z$ i0 O2 A
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;6 D+ ~5 B! [3 ]: _& b! q% }; \: Z
, P# ? Y+ v5 _1 s0 {对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; o+ R }, C% {4 v" N6 z. ~* {5 a' {: m& D: u/ F. n+ V7 t4 a& a/ X
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: 8 p* K0 D5 ^& t, L6 @$ {* ]: n: n6 j5 O1 A
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)。 # a; L9 P% O. |) w: D8 E2 S' y( 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)。+ R( m" F ]9 n$ A0 O