1 @: u& T# D' X% `1 x5 Y! T, N例如: ; ]5 W# J# M2 k' F; _4 g7 a; P 5 S: w% P/ _. M: \4 FMany 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); g! D$ G/ ^, q# F+ V6 F
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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。)2 [) v) M: I! q c- w% ?
, R% X O' z! U8 y4 i7 ~, p3 M, \4 ~6 CThis 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) . u6 U6 k+ d6 q7 _4 U3 ~" u6 t
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?). ^& E( {7 T. a" e( H' h
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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。)2 B: @" |0 U& @- K' H# ]. v
( s) B# x: I7 f' C8 O4 \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) , L) J- r1 u8 Q- P ) d* Q& P& t0 c- x- r4 zWe 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!) $ I& U: C/ i. |; W( L/ X% @' u ! b8 ~- f: ]8 [0 i( ^# D+ ZThe 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)6 W9 y, O8 W: c
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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。) " V% e" w( h& G* i H& w8 L- r. t Q& T3 ?
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?)7 W5 X8 b, e v. [9 K
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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!1 s* b2 C X A9 T
7 R& e3 n- Y# Q% A + } F+ ~$ [9 R' I5 p3 x2. 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。! T7 Z/ y0 w' ^' `. e' H Y$ z" }7 g
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例如: $ O/ F% E& A+ s3 M; x' }. R# F # A7 \# F4 E" V7 {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) . a: N) j; E1 u. }9 z/ U3 N$ V3 I# ]- v1 d7 t
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) 1 [- z9 q5 z* M* }% r! s9 A. `5 D $ o R' z/ j# f% ZI 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)" n( J0 N" i; F# P6 }
$ ?3 W4 K' L4 `! ?7 S6 ~4 b2 SHe 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 c, j$ v/ B" C7 h # O9 t* O4 D! J, V+ d/ PIn 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)% S6 p" @& L& B: @4 W
6 n1 d% v$ j: [9 Z2 l, E$ bShe 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)+ M- Q' }. Q, K" l* l$ L
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 3 R5 w6 i( ~+ I- H% h6 [$ I& T6 M$ |% 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: 1 x+ `0 F. g' ^; d" L) ?( a; ?4 i7 v- [+ @' g8 T2 S3 I% u
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。)) f5 {/ r2 h$ h- _4 ^ |( Z
" e( u) j7 Z$ Q% s& tThe 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.) / M# C, a0 l/ ~8 \ : _; T- F3 P. NHe 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 N/ S4 H2 P& V2 O + c- {, q6 w3 o6 }/ x8 A, uHe 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) / S9 w) a: b' C) [4 m! q' E1 s) {5 o6 ]" ]% @3 G5 C
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) 8 K, ~. m8 Q, z1 ~2 H# X% Y' x8 r& {
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) $ E! B0 t& F6 Y' B' a( n% V+ M9 \$ W8 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.) 5 ]% ?9 R2 N0 n3 W0 U2 y 3 B6 i# @& E, D& o+ w) u此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ( Q7 f6 S% i o4 z3 _4 I - z2 s7 B* H" w; @; P0 l) A8 m! J 4 R4 r! i& C' o2 Z# o) p1 p& ]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」。 + @# k& M0 X: Z' F% L* z9 g3 F% m( E3 j! ?/ A) @! a0 ^6 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) / Y6 d5 n0 O' I9 O$ N: d9 r 7 N' m2 G, g6 }# W+ O$ D- J0 Q: @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)! X) h' Y0 r- w8 `& Y G3 n6 v
8 R" j. S- @" N# U7 q+ E7 nThis 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)* z( e; }& {. K& Z3 w
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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。) / _! t0 _. Y: r& _7 R9 ]) z: b3 J% X+ k& n# H w+ y: ^
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。)( y: {' D, h) r5 i# W" O6 v
! z8 a% w. [" NPolicemen (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)$ K; q% j9 g' Z; w( X- Q$ Y
3 L& s. F) J2 g5 b" Y% oCongressmen (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) # F. s) d/ z- u8 R9 e8 J2 R2 A& M, r) K- f
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。)$ X8 ]. Z9 x6 @7 D6 @5 f9 Z3 c3 N
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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。& z1 Q }: w7 t+ x
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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 m$ [7 a ]! R! Z3 W- b k. {
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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;: K; m( P5 o1 J7 z1 }( d+ `; o
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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; & x( F1 D. z3 k6 u N+ t " h$ _; }+ D+ E# ^ j" e6 U对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ; \9 [; v+ v' {. }4 P6 E. v" a) E% L* z8 A/ x, f1 M
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 6 Z! z' I' w: p% H% o' R9 d 3 i% j4 n7 C) a. R' O) ^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: - x A" ?/ r t. R' I) t, n3 I ; b# _" j% p5 F5 q7 y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)。4 c! C [/ B, y
: K) P' o7 A6 T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)。6 i. E/ w/ K) N* T# x" A