; ?. |+ a) |" x* p7 R9 h例如: ' A! q" H; d& ]' e& G ; p: I E2 y8 \/ M9 pMany 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 B S3 K F9 `7 d6 G- Q# N+ x j& [/ K+ u4 l' i' ^( r# d# S1 w
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。) % b6 _. z' L1 ?$ F7 g% {# ^5 a ; M% R7 q# w3 B4 j7 H& bThis 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). X8 E8 v O8 F/ Q
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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?)) {7 h0 j/ E2 l4 _. v/ o: i7 M
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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。), M% [2 X: x8 ~. ^! J, L
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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)! s O$ F; R9 P( I
% h8 a5 p- \' |/ c @% i4 D$ `! vWe 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!)- ?; c. p% z. D9 _1 K y
" Z( a B. ?0 M% `% h( _2 KThe 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)* |" a& i. [8 h+ R& H
9 \! e5 r3 f! } I& Z+ _$ tWe 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。)$ J# Z" d) ]5 [: f- @' q' T d
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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?); ~; L" i l) N! _5 ~% l
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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! U; e0 w9 z9 @ 1 Y, X) n$ t7 ^' s0 h+ ?- p: F; u: E8 g0 k! `1 [! r, H 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。 + o; b) X3 i8 h* e7 b* m' a/ i" L) H 6 Z- i6 D* G* G7 m例如:, h" }" D w k" h3 Y
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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)/ G9 s$ {& \( y; o+ {! D7 q' _
! H. J) e5 P! T# lDespite 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 [5 X$ e, g* X7 M7 T0 t6 \3 s9 y3 n% ~6 s% c. c3 i' ^' B" {
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)4 g, N) W7 n3 b! [6 s4 w4 y, Z$ P+ B
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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)+ j' C. h' j: z/ _6 B
1 X! j7 f! B1 o- L; b0 J p# qIn 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). b# O( `4 i/ m A9 ]; b s
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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) 9 F! z+ c8 Y" M' {- |6 Y" e9 U0 q. f" \; n _
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)) |% l" n. v9 W2 j
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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: 0 I$ Z7 {; d& m1 `6 K- J) i. _" B7 \* \6 w: H1 T* u$ {: R
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。)- t2 r* ?1 F% b# j7 K0 l. d) \9 D
2 Z M9 d {' Q" SThe 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.)% R2 x% @: q) ^+ J |7 _/ n
8 p1 a+ T, ?$ iHe 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。): b" T0 n0 k/ S" q
9 q" V* Q `' j1 V9 NHe 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) # Q+ K6 E, k. }! w8 L" ^ , E( o, [3 g ^! MWe 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 q; K& l: f! D6 N7 B " R4 q; p5 H) K* s+ f5 u' `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); L- r' N8 D4 w1 @! O5 {
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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.) ) s& i" I4 L; d2 a$ |. P; E5 S5 F4 f: p3 o, O# S4 O
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 / G* O5 K D6 ?1 P+ G; `* U3 P' S. b, t" i( }0 U Z
# ~, b: r) @# w# t) f. j3.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" g _' w% ?" l+ i. E9 g& p# I& o) V1 I" i( \0 B2 q n
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$ F+ y- P0 ?% @" fMankind 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)/ @9 N% d& K6 L4 Y; N; W: D
6 F$ p5 f5 }% E, RManpower 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) * d5 t2 S9 L3 g6 |7 U7 @& Z- p ! q. W3 l; Y5 k1 t; }: QThis 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), j5 ~2 L! C, 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。) 5 N+ H5 {) X2 a% \8 I8 e% y: ^ 1 D/ Z' `% B9 FMany 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。) % e- \4 t6 {% W* ^* F7 ?& _ @ + l D) s9 O/ P: zPolicemen (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)' U& a! l4 W' c1 |1 E5 H2 u
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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) 5 ~- X O3 y s! @& t7 u5 E5 E' W; k) C' W: D8 W5 N
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。) * V- |2 [( U$ x& b * B5 c( f: U, v; @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。 ) h8 N: i; {! \5 z+ W & J( Y$ e) ] N! o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:" i( o" F. l# ~7 \$ A( ^- ]
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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; / t8 \, ?' h8 \; W, m7 P ) T& U! W1 ~, p2 i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; ) `% {) B6 V0 v: w, [9 O) t 1 f4 s) M: {1 e对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;; Q5 W! `, H5 U+ X
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; b- V' d/ s! ?7 j3 n% G+ k9 O
$ e4 P2 H* ?+ `; N( 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: , F! f: X L) H4 T, \, Q: G0 b6 R7 Y8 q& j* d1 E2 c
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)。 7 X! U* m* X i" h) T! I Z8 t5 o; [; ~ i2 e }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)。 / V, G" t6 z* ^! e- I% r