* ^* P. z' t/ q# H例如: ; A% d% X2 C/ t5 c8 x% [/ u; w. K; _3 N
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)9 h W' R7 v* `. g
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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。)# [% d4 f9 M* V2 g/ e. j3 E
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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)3 k% ?: g1 }) {& v, A
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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?) . E5 U" O. c v/ U @. j, d+ ]$ H; i* W' W; zI 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。)/ I5 k' B' [( W5 c4 F3 j. s! H
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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) ) |5 ]( T2 `. J% Q& H* L) p ]/ g) d3 b
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 Z) l" l0 k; W+ O1 R3 }8 h5 u% ^. _1 @! V9 L9 Y7 J
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) & w- e( E+ X7 N; ] , p0 V5 F2 ^+ }6 }' J$ iWe 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。) 7 H3 E/ i4 }! p( W- W" J$ @/ H, F, R
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?) $ l7 z7 r: v- g+ ?+ I5 u9 B' _" g# Z0 k2 h) q( E$ z! r
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 O- h8 @" E7 }+ R+ w! |% U
, p* M* d: ~2 X- ]$ s/ m$ B" {* G |. N" V6 R 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。 ! I0 M# O* t+ Z- Q( y$ b5 q3 p0 J0 R' N/ n) W& A
例如: ) r" ]" J; @) S% w, A ) U [! |/ `0 d+ a/ cAt 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) * Y. z: e5 g' A+ c2 \# b& X* o4 ?6 M& g% v5 K1 I6 V
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) + d" `# |, t$ U; T- C i. e' s& v 1 q. j* u4 j0 o% M+ k" BI 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) # h4 P( n$ _1 W3 F' l0 t. F$ B7 l4 W$ D4 f' M2 f# d0 }. O$ ~! K/ R0 L
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)7 N6 W7 }# Q& o ?
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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) 7 c) C& x8 G# c/ F; v+ o% }/ T8 n. j. j* [ s- n; t; b
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)2 }4 q& D; J% b% L- { A6 @
1 h$ t0 \' | {9 X1 [, p' l% s1 Z: aI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 4 K0 V7 t7 ]; ^* c! w N/ R2 O7 T0 F6 A& p2 k1 K1 G
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: ; F% m, U& b, F2 l# p( `3 N+ W& d- r. C8 b7 w( }, v6 @4 X
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。)) K- ^$ P4 _% _$ `
* E! \1 l# p S: ]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.) 9 ~2 o5 j2 ~9 D% N; r/ \: Z% y l; p( Q0 \
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。) # W8 w/ l3 c, J6 [0 a# O7 [3 a7 F1 B1 Y
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) , t. ]# k! J* T3 k2 C; `$ B3 X6 E; K1 x/ ?( l) ] H8 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)- m5 `6 b! n$ f* s
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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)# i2 K) v$ X) Y" ^( J1 ?
7 o2 Y. U: {# E2 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.) ; ?: N5 p& h) W$ V3 }8 c; I$ p 0 O: z( r9 J$ t: J3 N7 Q此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。7 l7 {3 I) I, B" i
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1 z* ?" @: ~9 J3 W5 B2 S 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」。3 ^4 J+ f) ?! e! ?
2 K! G" y/ a( {) F例如: & n$ R% A9 O0 ]% L1 l# r2 B! x # R; Z" W6 `$ z( ^# {1 CMankind 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)) c" A2 V7 p6 g' A- a0 |
. o( Y$ C7 ]8 c& R1 d7 h8 k* CManpower 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) 7 X w+ e1 q* r9 _8 c& V3 H: k* _* c1 P
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)6 l7 l. J3 W4 d* R
& e' |0 i( H h, k* f3 fHe (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。) % H* _! z) q! Z5 G T$ g% {/ b5 {6 o6 I6 z
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。) ) R# d( ?( O$ x1 W * t- h: ?7 V$ PPolicemen (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) & \8 T& `8 J, _" n' d o$ s- w. Z/ D8 d+ g% t' B% q$ S z
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): G D5 M7 l: U. n/ a V+ t( m( l
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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。) 8 x1 s1 _! F' j" c) O$ t. |' L% V! \' [( @& g2 P! H {
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。 , Y7 ?6 i3 J. B+ |3 z( [% f0 {2 U0 e. G& D
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:) }* O0 c! o' I, I- ?0 B
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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; $ y! d {7 @2 J, n) m$ P0 ?5 v% ?3 r* i* H
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;; D5 |8 I) V4 W6 j X/ B3 ?
/ `+ w4 c$ J s. E对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; t5 d5 z7 ^+ F+ ^ $ C: h; |. S; V. f9 V" v对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; b& w) V% G) f. b: e) b! j1 T( K2 o& r! c; s( l2 p7 _) 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 b* o H, h2 s( q+ Z
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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)。3 |: N- S4 E, Z9 t% I1 I7 U% G
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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* t' P% v; O) x