( p) ] V" t0 ^1 U+ B0 E4 t% i例如:5 t& g! v M0 }9 A [1 ^
4 Z" j+ v8 f; T, k/ iMany 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) : h; ]; R7 G: M8 l: p # n, ]( e+ y( U; rThree 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。) i9 |) D+ G9 ]/ a& I' Y 6 Z4 N0 @3 @: o: j# xThis 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), H; A5 L8 c) }, D' d5 M" w; c
$ w3 Z; F$ W" r: AThe 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?) 1 y, f6 g! }6 p$ ?: z2 m) z; O, i# t2 G
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。)( u% S! H3 T& ? r$ R
0 R: ~5 I7 x* G E2 q, [" o
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) ! L8 t' g3 v& E7 |$ Y. J1 g! ]/ }- Z5 R S/ O! ? M& ]
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!) 1 s$ N! Q7 `" a$ h6 w. E) S( D! x# W: L. `, f1 W. [1 g. a( H
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)0 S8 [( x# W& A' X
9 q* y( \5 K* ]" ^8 h; _ c
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。)# `1 g/ H# Q6 ?: J/ B7 @
7 C: X5 x) u% a+ A4 K' V: sPlease 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?) 2 l% N. v" I* s* [- T( U7 F7 n0 l9 h0 e+ T' f
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!9 t; _9 t4 o! q) l
1 n H! T5 x$ A& u Q& ^ # ?$ z. _% R9 E/ ?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。 6 X4 t+ z5 \+ ^3 `! `$ Z( n. ^* x l }. Q9 v) s
例如:+ o+ P8 o# Q0 y; i1 g
8 h: _6 L+ `" |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) ; g& o1 K' s, ^) h8 H, r Y8 v3 A& @9 KDespite 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) h6 f- B/ H: z) ^/ p( |: ^5 p" t
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) : W) K" T/ y6 q, n 5 u7 }- n. v: R% k4 Y% l, 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) ' p) g8 Z" \ d! K) Z2 p. S & Y1 N" G* ?4 V( y5 S+ t# Z! Y% |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) ; ^ C8 r$ u9 j3 x- M% A) Q( c1 B% c8 K# K0 d( c
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)6 b1 D0 v' n( e; _2 t) k- S! F
+ e' E5 ^% y! q, l. u# wI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)! l7 j8 p3 x6 N# h- _
" V( }% w# }# A$ G9 ]
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: % P9 M7 S; t: q' E1 C: N + v6 r: j& ^) eThe 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。)/ G# C8 u! y+ w
+ }/ h% O3 U5 }
The 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.)" d( T9 g3 I/ k9 g4 }1 o5 n2 M
7 s" c0 w/ J7 O' v9 }) }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。) - o: v- m! j2 q- Z 6 z. w% n g( E9 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): H7 q$ x! \! q4 s; d
2 y) v" d8 e# KWe 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) 5 @4 F0 N( w. I2 h . X2 P4 L3 a+ r3 DEnclosed (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)4 V3 u2 ?. R2 F' U6 ?3 B
2 y4 a# Y; u( F( q/ t+ H8 Y9 ~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.): r9 W0 C, V7 K3 ^2 C
" s3 D+ m: A4 q7 K0 T& E此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。2 s* C# b* r& W5 c5 a2 D
5 c" h3 L0 L$ {) ?3 d
$ _( ?$ s! z z. E$ `9 S3.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」。2 u/ `$ ?! m) c0 w7 ^
# g2 O: q- h7 Y% P例如:+ `& u8 Z# W. b, C9 X- W
5 v3 g4 ~: G4 r3 {
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)7 i$ |. A+ `$ A8 S1 _5 L% Q O
( o, O. y- [' V. U4 N& M3 N0 P0 M9 ~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) ]3 a f6 A2 z3 d6 r2 l6 J2 Z" i( W( \
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)3 h% U% e+ Z) L; ?$ A
. ~, }# q% D4 I) c: K7 Z( ^
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。)4 b2 ^. m+ \3 a4 G5 ]4 D
W8 ]1 ~ b2 [; e
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。) " G* F$ W$ f2 v, ]$ h. ? 5 B% `7 ^; e5 W& |. [: [8 h/ Q- HPolicemen (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)& f7 q- J% v/ W4 e" e
9 k, e: B) Q' K8 b" 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)" a; ], ?9 k9 b8 r# ?
, J3 D0 s1 W; E: b0 ]
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。)- w8 X9 D2 r" J. e3 }, L
0 g& Y+ I! l" W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。 q- I; v9 ?, T I8 R ( x0 l: f1 d4 B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: * Q( e; o4 Z0 J& v! C ! j) Z) H6 u6 h. p4 {! R: F+ c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;2 o6 c, g! m. g/ \/ p' t7 C& i$ c
# B* B2 `8 s! z7 \2 @: ~; i# K+ ~2 G
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; " I0 r- X# ~1 A- R$ u& Q" ]2 I+ w+ V; k8 p+ t: T
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;9 f3 N' ?9 d+ L6 T
8 j+ x1 ~4 y6 i! d2 \( ?0 m对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 3 r; r8 {6 w: z2 z6 J: _7 r2 D( r6 }; j& ^ K' W) |5 ~: 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:, c1 {0 P8 e; M) g
* u! N4 x% z F3 Y5 |5 g$ k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)。: L) x6 K M4 u