' G( d- m6 q% I" eMany 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 r0 Z( t) ? N5 H: M6 c$ Z5 i4 U8 H; V! W6 |* W* E
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。) . _1 z0 \ f& F6 A9 O" O# D8 k ]; R/ l/ F/ p2 X! {. jThis 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) ' `1 H5 ^+ p8 x. R- k% X0 d0 t; Y; d 7 ~6 a* s3 F7 I! z* rThe 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?) \7 _0 T v- R% x7 }/ J
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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。)9 O8 w/ d6 K; Z& N7 [% x
8 N! V$ N) r3 f$ qMr. 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)3 k: F& I; @) A0 F2 l. `% b4 R
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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!)7 v5 S; x7 l: T( n; _
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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)3 y5 n+ W/ T w) h3 V: x7 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。)7 T; G4 Z: l4 k) q' Q( A( D4 e
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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?)# A( E* C" g, d9 t# Y6 e/ g
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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!- n* z8 p1 }" C7 ?+ l
2 {* C6 f. i" d" u- c8 h8 x, g, ]2 X+ m) s 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。' Z/ k# H9 \9 S L8 @
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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) 5 N1 |8 }. S# O4 l/ R; g' o $ U/ Q$ P7 f) k! l" fDespite 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)2 Z; i! j7 ~ S9 k: h* L% C
4 c1 m# l" A' uI 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)1 j! u) _3 g; r# O/ A
% s4 {! t$ Q3 X& j# n# R( gHe 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)+ t' V9 x- t4 k% S2 r% c
& h" \6 _# q9 g0 O% |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)9 {' h7 k J0 B* f& l3 Z. c
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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) # n, l1 Q3 J2 x K! V+ M / N* q; w0 ?* E% j3 tI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)7 g. S: D8 z- B' \
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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: ) V2 d' G2 l/ C ]8 g0 ]& ?' S$ {2 o& ~. r; U0 L# b# \
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。) ! U4 G9 d- b0 x; I# P! Z 2 C/ J8 P: S; o' I( l5 cThe 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.) " D4 \) {( v# _/ k $ Q H" C# T6 M% i( \5 W4 BHe 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。) 7 K: w. k$ D! m1 W# Z, o( x/ l K' e% p' M1 l6 O3 _, H
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) 7 b6 R1 @0 w: Q6 B+ L, A( @5 t$ F% x- N5 O* e' ? E
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)* r! h0 S' X' v" T9 @% b
8 r: ~4 q# R& X, |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) : F+ I8 o' D% R, j& P" M1 a. F" Z+ I N1 |2 b
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.)# k( F, x: y ~$ r' N7 Z" T. g
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。& {. Y. R P6 Y, Z M0 n- w
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7 k5 \+ L7 z/ y- Q4 V" n: Y/ A6 w7 \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」。 ; f. g4 j& |* ]6 A* ~4 n 4 ?" D1 R1 @9 r) u P, Q! P" _例如:' V, m; S6 p% A; T3 t- C
0 e L! l3 p8 ~ O- u0 oMankind 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) : v+ J9 a, P" a- O* u- [7 O& c; V
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)$ @- a0 U! P9 _/ a" s/ K3 L5 B
% C4 `% A- K, b: {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) 0 p0 W! R' i, f- }# l( m- r, B- o6 V' `5 h, A
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。)& Q' t3 J+ G* j8 m j; h0 }
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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。)! [0 E2 Q Z: ]4 v g
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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); W6 J8 p+ A/ n0 f6 \! K
0 W* ~2 @/ _- f- M2 JCongressmen (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), L, @( T: J( r% f% Q9 S2 B
/ A$ F& V: |" TStewardesses 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。) 4 L `, L/ Z; Q) X3 A( X7 `( } - j3 G4 _7 U- j1 w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。 # ~7 P6 `( @! ]* n 4 A( o2 ^0 m H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:& ^" w& g7 n9 q9 T
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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;8 G3 r5 k' c9 S0 e7 R( J
0 V" d; m y: s% t1 D1 J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)。 & W+ Y+ U# b4 Z' F$ @ D5 z' e# i! g+ Q