' ?# H) i5 Z% O7 I: ~+ }# Q5 k+ W例如: 9 }' }9 |8 B W' R2 s) w, e( o" n; n( w- H: f) x9 x
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) : ~) t I" F5 b: r* H! ]+ Z6 I2 Z3 Z. c
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。); B; W# Z) j( E3 Z
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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) 5 I: L! S2 Z* a* V/ Z0 r c$ ^# ^1 H5 F/ ?
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$ r( B6 v+ @
1 S% ]4 U5 e% i9 xI 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。) 5 u, R5 O9 D6 J3 Y! z! \. e, y% W! }% ]) C2 I% i8 q5 g
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)9 t+ s, g) A/ d7 h2 j, W* F
6 L% T; |: w) D3 }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!) % F: G% W& M# K/ T$ Y- z9 a 4 e7 j$ [' C- DThe 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); Z- v% f8 S7 M; x9 H, a) i" {
. J5 o+ x3 E( GWe 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。)5 o, i+ a U6 X' s; F1 ~
; {. o- Y) G& @8 a1 a5 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?) $ P4 F1 b) S0 V' ?' a% n! g' O/ M2 b2 A) t/ @4 b
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!3 R8 W. @6 x" g& h, x0 M( U
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" l' ~' J- A H' ]. f2 J2. 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。 # l: z8 ]9 p/ q5 Q2 E % c' L! [) G+ @5 o& x5 C例如: / V) @9 J- p6 U5 `! K3 {' H 8 A: C# F8 v, |1 p" f+ D- XAt 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)" m& T! R d* \3 c
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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) 4 |8 {1 L+ d0 x3 r1 a" d5 w3 @ * T' R' p; H. r! }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 Y6 k: ?( i g9 j, c4 l% h! w " q7 A% q( G$ W! p% }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 j( Y1 ]1 {' z$ q0 |
) s$ d+ E2 S6 a7 K% ^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). i1 I0 f8 o- I! v/ B6 L" O
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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)7 ^! K+ Y. _: `: Z/ y: O& V
: P }3 q) ^! y6 lI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ! G' r; ]; i; A , Y! x1 p* ]; i) |9 b# F/ ] 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:! V& w; N0 X9 E, I
9 {9 k3 J8 O/ P) c3 P, G3 RThe 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 f' c/ ]9 l& V9 F6 `$ o 8 _* o3 C) v1 L1 n6 VThe 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.)) p$ v3 z+ M) x- h# k. c$ F) d
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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。)* Y# f K+ o: ~ G" j$ a5 j" I( r' d
8 B" h8 h/ J L2 f* ^: BHe 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)8 [6 u) K+ I( @9 Y4 `; @
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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)& g+ f2 j# v& x7 _# u
4 j- G" U6 p4 V4 N c+ V& ~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); p$ f7 @6 }# Q) A/ I l. ?& N
. r3 K6 h% |: d+ x0 K' P# x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 t' p9 @% g) J9 D7 I: j7 z1 i) s 0 Z* |1 J! _! J' V此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。1 l, ]/ u2 F& A* F
; X2 t: W% _* n4 l& L0 p, {+ O * p, r; w! W& i2 \) [7 O7 Y3.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」。 6 D2 c3 ~ x s7 ]6 P- d- t. w4 s& D+ W& c0 Y! O7 Z1 J
例如:+ J/ W1 x7 ?$ \0 W7 U+ b
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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) - d# z! H/ D& _, q e h) P+ e/ P 6 W) w7 W% d: q" B% Y7 t( ?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) * W4 ?9 g8 y- x# v$ j6 n( v% r# @: B5 r5 d+ c
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)( I. _: j2 O5 s/ i# B' m
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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。) & H5 [& I8 X s: C3 O U" u% \8 G8 u: C( Q+ ~* 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。)( O1 c2 M% v! r1 M( z
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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) 3 A6 {- p/ R5 D* @9 C0 s7 M1 E0 X+ I( L( `- I
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) ' U) ?. B; [- n3 Z9 L" M' X0 M, Z 1 V9 l0 M* v2 k7 e" T8 w( w6 U- }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。) & u4 v; a/ B8 @# h# I1 e 9 G* Y, k' o& ^% n9 v9 c. w: G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。) \0 P4 j, @6 M9 M
" n. @4 G! ~! y- J! q8 b$ L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)。 2 K6 B- c K3 G6 Q8 M% S. k, ^& X n( {* N
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)。3 O B; L% `7 p1 P; U- z