4 W1 E" }7 b0 h: l/ q# u, h8 tMany 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) 8 F: m: y! V0 I2 ]8 {% J, N" Y) [1 ]2 ^
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。)' R% ~( L4 }. v5 n( [$ F
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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) ; x0 q" i( E" P7 {/ y 8 i! I1 L6 R, a W1 \" GThe 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 p( ^8 E& F: m; d0 f+ x0 T3 `# m4 T
" X' \# p D; ?" c' 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。) . w' i( v9 K2 Q, c, \: c 8 ^% N' B! @% A; N! g L4 jMr. 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) 4 l3 {- u0 a3 ~8 T 6 S+ O- d H4 @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!) " `5 x; j; I: i' F, o* R* h4 l H: E6 P) u# B5 p7 ^
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) * C: ]! e5 ^7 s* M0 B + c( G1 }$ v/ o" v3 T8 f" B7 vWe 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。) " j4 J7 t9 \ w* \ 0 D; ?; }: s+ M4 p7 HPlease 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?); L" t5 \1 T+ S7 U2 b/ x
. `* B) i, |% x4 g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!7 `% a8 k; d9 J' w& U' a$ t
; q: R0 {' h ~6 L3 F, N % s2 W0 ?( k, x9 g8 `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。" K8 {& p8 v3 g! r
% k6 k, ~' A5 \* D3 |例如: 6 @" }! S% n/ n1 x3 _7 z 9 U. {$ U% [/ T4 G3 _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)! u1 w/ v! e$ _( B
" ~% G+ @9 i0 W# i$ l3 N6 [2 nDespite 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) - o( v a0 \/ Y2 O* V0 T, T! }! w$ Y4 `8 m4 P5 M4 ~
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) 2 e w7 y- r' f" ]8 W$ P' f 7 q# V7 T# H) e3 s" vHe 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) " }! T9 U) x! @5 [" Q; E/ d z- x* B3 `2 ]& }2 O+ [7 `
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) 5 H2 C, o5 m5 Q& k' H$ o 1 m: x4 h& [' w( w4 @: SShe 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, h3 w. o/ s& y& \ ) Z2 H6 q: M3 I5 ?6 X3 XI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) K5 m+ o3 c/ {( z+ J# R
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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:: y1 q7 W9 K$ \! U6 C! r
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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。) 1 P8 Z* A7 S f4 E ! b; [# {* s# k' H" UThe 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.); L, ]) T: _/ w# `% K- k q
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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。)' T: J0 j+ X$ v3 B) V
4 D# L! C' L. A0 G" j& [/ xHe 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) ) s: y+ m, L) }. d# D7 E$ p. J5 ]: P6 B* z2 S% h
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)# `. k4 z; z0 a* l/ Q8 @5 r; b% m
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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) 8 K, s+ V1 c A2 r) X* G - `" A j# d2 E1 ]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 Y4 c5 w+ B9 p/ D8 ~4 b , j$ S$ X6 |$ u! ~8 X$ r' D此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。+ l7 g; i) _: \. ?
5 E9 P3 a+ ]2 E+ @ ; w: o7 Z W# o0 r& ]' 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」。) I, ]3 l& {+ F: b) B" g: [- P
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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) v; Q. F$ P, B; @% |
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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) ! d6 u2 R5 Q; G$ ]8 ` P0 \1 K# F. x. v0 v. | }% 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)& k9 p$ a; Z! y$ z) V
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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。)/ j9 ^1 e4 Q ~* i
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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。)4 H. F3 R( N* n8 S: B
& O7 x" a. Y B: B" v0 c: Z4 UPolicemen (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) 6 |# U- k7 X! L" W/ r7 U* W4 ]% L2 M6 A7 C* g+ O( _+ U; f( 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)/ L$ ?& f5 _+ c6 }( V& ^
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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。) 6 S% K- j) `0 D% |5 o* v5 h: M _; a 1 I. i9 p# A4 R$ k+ o- [+ Q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。 % z0 O9 m# \7 @9 Z* k7 I0 k. d0 y
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: 0 y" @: z3 h1 S4 ^; ` j. { * A$ H- r6 g( B! ?9 j* v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;) x0 _- ?' P6 [2 n! j8 [5 {" a: w
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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 c |! d9 F+ N s; _ 4 P5 K2 p3 w7 t! P6 Y0 h对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;1 W a0 u- G7 R8 `8 p! A1 T* Z
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ( G% a* s4 u, `1 }- u- F* H7 C" K/ k3 j) k" E7 u9 g0 B& w
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:. A" o7 p# {" d6 \# c
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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)。; W n7 q3 B' \) 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)。8 \$ E; B8 e! Z