# g- p9 `3 T! A! V0 F6 Y; xMany 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) ; X- m* x( f* f/ Y! I# l9 {. A# R a: c; H6 T& S% t) K1 w5 e! G
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。)1 `( V" m! W- g e# k2 S
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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) ! H% }. l4 G# N. {/ { # U& [4 w4 O( y1 ~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?) 9 V* B% t# }' ]( f0 u1 U5 `) i) N$ J6 E3 i
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。) T0 I" y0 n A$ f- P
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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)9 U! E9 V! G0 ^! i
8 o. ]; g0 M: D# \- n" k8 t+ mWe 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!)) U( c l& u' ]+ ?, p* \; L
3 [; R a6 H7 r; E/ ?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) ( _7 e- V4 e' |) Y ) \0 c$ f, [0 R& r; B7 _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。) , Y/ e8 q i- ]* A7 \& ?+ o( j+ J" F) i
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 M5 d1 @* e% A( j3 k; E; t8 G1 J- a/ W
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! 7 y h" w1 C1 A" v1 o : n" [( T. o, @( @6 v" Q8 x7 ]3 R) N! L+ \; P+ B# v 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。 " b* p" ]) f* P8 k4 A& { 9 I' K. j3 D9 @+ {* o例如:- L% f' z: R+ D
5 X/ g# p2 v4 s$ FAt 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)& k6 |* a) ]) F8 v0 V
/ G8 @4 L- q: W* h+ V/ J8 X$ _& bDespite 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) ! ]; d* f5 U, I+ P" @/ \( i+ r# ~- n9 E5 B; @8 i9 ~
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) 5 Y% W( u( E9 C2 m! T 0 ]) B- i; n8 J8 }% O5 r' cHe 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)$ ?0 W$ E& | j; z
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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) ; k! y3 q1 ~ c C- t: T$ W/ p, ]5 L3 x/ J$ C8 f
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 s7 t- Z# {4 i 7 P: l7 v2 r! M$ S. }I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ( g* W, {6 x8 E8 `; L5 j8 e5 t) y7 X9 c" X
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: 4 X& V( P7 N: V r$ _" t; b6 \$ ?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。)' D% _4 \9 ?6 m
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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.)- @* S- k% y: G8 }% e
" d1 Q9 r0 K- d, 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。) . \ M+ |; @# N6 W# x+ C / Z1 V9 Z. d7 mHe 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 Y( U2 q Y+ C& p8 J% o+ @, T Q* T0 K' ]/ s( EWe 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) ) X8 ^/ a& @+ n2 P j6 K$ g+ D- [$ @' N, Q! o8 Y3 o3 k1 N
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)1 ^+ K7 o$ k9 [/ H; W$ r
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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.)/ x3 q$ D$ _# h! @
* {! k- J. |8 g9 x0 _$ {5 t' ?此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 @2 ]9 B9 V. D! t( @6 I0 w1 m9 Y( _
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) N! |. |% b F* C* i 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」。 3 I3 ^, ?5 h0 A% I+ L7 W4 e( Y3 \6 W; Z
例如:! z& ]2 W* a; B; f" d5 z7 r
7 E0 R& V( E, Z8 t4 GMankind 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) 4 P3 s* ^% k* h" m & j0 T. s- ^% Y- d8 Q) _. UManpower 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): s) J) Z. M2 g# R4 h* k8 g- F* Z
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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 L: P# S6 t) ^/ l$ i ' a2 e8 R4 [7 Y0 MHe (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。) ' m5 I1 _ Q4 N" ?- `9 f + q# @: o2 U5 `" n. sMany 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。)1 V8 n" r, l; ?
! P0 D( _- \3 }; l. U( o/ RPolicemen (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)6 K3 z% c7 E: ]' p5 h
2 y: X7 a2 w( J2 t) q6 L" dCongressmen (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- x1 M8 {6 e$ S: h* T2 h7 h * J5 q1 V7 a0 I; [; ]. jStewardesses 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。)3 B; j; @! N, C# u9 p
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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。# r0 O/ C$ ]" r( m H( h6 O
1 w2 Z; `' v! u1 q- a- o9 a' L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:: M$ X# F! O `4 G8 I& m+ Y n
: c, Y7 b0 a3 H7 `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; 7 n6 H! V/ Z3 \8 b ~' P. Y" A2 M w7 r$ K. 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;& C% D p. h! b3 E$ E, x
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;4 [8 r. x# U% O+ i
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;, g- y& W" k8 K: j
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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:6 g% V! ^! Q* l% U+ ?
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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)。 ) v" B% q$ Z" g. C" T* a, w8 j% 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)。 8 x( f5 A- g- k; ~ b