s( W6 W- g% l2 }3 m* X7 s例如: j& H& p4 C1 K6 ~% [/ V6 |5 x 4 q1 k- m6 {0 C; nMany 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) + R" M+ I, y5 r- p% H8 k3 v* P" A( b% ^& N7 a) N2 X
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。) 4 W$ v6 i- k% c- e b$ o% I3 C% Y( d6 w
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) |' ^- w* W- v$ K, ]7 Q
& g4 V) h: B1 X5 f$ W" \, ^/ @# W! xThe 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?) - K+ c' T- u7 P1 c2 L* b* K" O & F# A6 Z) a! m; w+ X/ [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。) ! S) z5 n" ^/ A& e/ Y' ~ ' t7 t' ^, ?5 L; w" L2 }5 c$ aMr. 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) ; b( ]& |" h/ M& ]: G6 F3 ] F' t" P! {# I6 i' z
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!)/ l4 F7 l) v- w1 O0 b
0 P5 d9 b& W# z/ b1 x3 h; G( O" lThe 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): n' v' G! p, k; G, T9 [* V
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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。) & e5 K; ^; d8 \) A9 Z6 {0 v8 h J# J" x: Y3 C G A& u
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?)# Q. c t* l' q( i) L" o8 ^
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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 m n5 i# g5 X $ t1 r8 `+ Y$ X8 a2 { ( @2 S! f( O( e q2. 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。 ! g' E* u4 u' ^6 E$ V7 Y! A8 Z0 H! c
例如: , {5 R1 h, o: l3 b# G 2 c1 n/ L9 u C$ B( x- J+ pAt 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)+ I; x# H, G, Y8 F* U* t1 b6 {7 K
& }! K9 Y. Q+ ^* uDespite 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) / Q4 U7 c7 c3 f+ X7 }5 k k, m |* h% GI 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)+ g3 }$ }8 W# f! Z
( C3 z; {4 }2 {+ ZHe 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)3 k. p0 I+ x; C$ \, ^0 a) a( P
% T8 @& O7 ?6 c+ e* h0 lIn 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) , u3 I% |* k) [! S7 c } 9 f4 A6 E- R$ |1 B5 L1 aShe 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) + s: t4 Z* R) F) F/ Z $ C6 Y' |. ~0 ^8 w* NI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)9 `# \1 c9 c. I4 p/ P, x
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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: ) a! \) l& Z+ B ^# p' a0 f 1 O4 ?1 T% H; iThe 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 H' \: B2 n" f$ L
! t% z! V9 R1 y( w6 NThe 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.)4 I- v/ ~- B4 ^% U
F5 g8 ~ ^4 L5 {1 x+ LHe 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 w# P7 C5 B6 v% j |
2 [. W' {! T7 L+ S( a0 E. `! p! {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) 5 s. K9 P) ?# a6 e+ I& G2 K3 T1 s M1 Q3 l. ]* |
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) - u: G. i8 T) o& _3 V# c % r0 }# i Q$ Y% @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) % [5 s1 t4 C( v% f7 ~. b3 H! i5 ]4 [- Q1 o$ v J; c; [) I2 ?
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.) 7 J3 J- l7 w& F; \5 P+ i 7 Q- m2 W, x [, o此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。8 Y# W+ G# `5 Z4 g+ B# H
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: r$ P$ n [* ~ 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」。 " ?) K7 L# K7 e! ]1 ?# ` 4 c8 Q' d# l4 ?9 [例如:, \; x0 @! Q G: k3 E
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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) ) m; Q) j6 V6 J0 d% N) a2 h: J! k# s' x. _/ G
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) + W& A. X7 i2 W) ~9 H% x ' M/ I% n0 F2 w+ TThis 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) - z3 J4 T+ ~" z2 [* `9 r1 ?: C1 }5 p6 ]. x" r& E/ m* j2 i& f
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。)/ K" t5 ~8 q: [8 o$ o
R$ V* u# r$ W4 ]$ JMany 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。) 9 O! m2 q$ S" \ w" A2 r ) n6 v! ^9 k/ V& i+ m; ^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) 2 \& h) ?8 a0 M3 M6 a( L; ~/ u. m2 m+ K% h8 m6 p+ 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) 7 s# k( E- H. w+ |. p8 j 2 d1 V ]8 c5 IStewardesses 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。)1 ]9 ^; k' n/ `* \( Q) f
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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。 3 _ ^. U2 F H& I( c q5 n9 H" r% v : |$ f, j8 l8 X& {( v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: * ?8 B- P( O L' n1 \# k( ~/ S( y! G/ J% ]- y) g0 F
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; a& P& }: c. N/ E* [/ g. J; c8 X! n, v( j
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;* l+ o9 W% q# ]/ Y( G
% f. |* o2 i: R2 D1 q3 D对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 7 z6 Z* i. v; g" b2 J# D 5 M/ `+ B; A+ o8 a0 i& W7 ~ o2 v对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;# u e' Q6 S& Z c' k
7 Y( E6 _8 G5 W7 q9 A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:+ t+ [" O7 l' o8 z% M/ ^+ ^
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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)。 1 B y, G; s6 s; k7 H 0 p7 e5 _- ^0 N% \5 m! Q, 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)。( q3 _; T# n5 f5 r