The Problem of Unnecessary Modifiers in Chinglish

Meribah

In translation and English writing, a significant issue in Chinglish is the overuse of modifiers, including redundant modifiers, self-evident modifiers, intensifiers, determiners, and clichés. These modifiers may enhance tone or conform to expressive habits in Chinese contexts, but in English, they often appear superfluous, rigid, and even detract from the effectiveness of the expression. Therefore, when translating Chinese into English, it is essential to carefully judge which modifiers can be retained, replaced, or directly removed to ensure the naturalness and fluency of the English text.

Chinese often enhances tone or conforms to stylistic norms by adding modifiers, such as the common “resolutely implement,” “study diligently,” and “promote effectively” in government documents or speeches. While these modifiers may be reasonable in Chinese contexts, in English, many of them are either redundant or come across as exaggerated. For example, translating “new innovations” directly from “新的创新” is a classic redundancy, as “innovation” already implies “newness.” Similarly, “further promote reforms” can be simply expressed in English as “promote reforms” without the need for “further.”

Intensifiers are particularly common in Chinglish, such as “resolutely,” “effectively,” and “unwaveringly.” These words frequently appear in political or propaganda texts, but if translated directly into English without adjustment, they not only make the text sound stilted but also lose their original impact due to overuse. For instance, “arduous task” may be used to emphasize difficulty in Chinese, but in English, it becomes bland if used repeatedly. Replacing it with “challenging task” or “demanding mission” can bring more vividness. Similarly, “effectively develop” can be simplified to “robust development” or “vigorous growth,” avoiding a mechanical correspondence with the Chinese structure.

Determiners are another category of modifiers that need careful handling. Chinese often uses words like “possibly,” “probably,” and “quite” to express tentativeness or uncertainty, but in English, overusing these words can make statements seem vague or wordy. For example, translating “Perhaps it will take ten years to complete” directly from “也许需要十年完成” is cumbersome, while “It may take ten years” is more concise and direct. Similarly, “quite a significant impact” may dilute the strength of “significant” in English. Removing or replacing it with “a tremendous impact” can make the expression more vivid.

Clichés are one of the most challenging issues in Chinglish, especially fixed modifier combinations like “scientific analysis,” “appropriate adjustment,” and “meticulous effort.” These expressions are formulaic in Chinese but come across as rigid and lack personality in English. The solution is to flexibly replace or reduce them. For example, “meticulous effort” can be translated as “careful efforts” or simply “efforts”; “resolutely prohibit” can be handled as “strictly prohibit” or “ban outright” depending on the context. The key is to move beyond literal translation and choose more natural vocabulary based on English expression habits.

The overuse of modifiers in political and academic texts is particularly prominent. These texts are often filled with slogan-like expressions such as “unwaveringly implement” and “effectively promote.” If translated directly into English, they can not only appear lengthy to international readers but also backfire due to overemphasis. For example, “We must persistently push forward with reforms” sounds stilted when translated directly from “我们必须坚持不懈地推进改革,” while “We must steadfastly advance reforms” or “Reforms must be consistently pursued” are more in line with English expression habits. In this case, the inclusion or exclusion of modifiers should be based on reader acceptance, avoiding “suffocating” accumulation.

The degradation of modifiers is also worth noting. Certain originally powerful words lose their original color due to overuse. For example, “very” and “completely” have become filler words that weaken expressions in English. Similarly, in early drafts of the translation of “Selected Works of Zhou Enlai,” strong adjectives like “rampant reaction” and “frantic attack” appeared repetitively and seemed exaggerated. They were largely revised in later versions. This reminds us that even vivid modifiers need to be used sparingly; otherwise, they become new clichés.

The core strategies for addressing the issue of modifiers in Chinglish can be summarized in three points: First, simplify by removing redundant or self-evident words; second, replace with more precise and vivid expressions instead of formulaic vocabulary; third, tone down determiners to avoid overusing vague expressions like “possibly” and “quite.” Additionally, tools such as thesauruses (like Roget’s Thesaurus) can help find better alternatives, and reading authentic English texts can cultivate a sense of sensitivity to modifiers.

In summary, the problem of modifiers in Chinglish reflects the deep-seated differences between Chinese and English language habits. In translation or English writing, it is always necessary to orient towards the habits of English readers and avoid mechanically corresponding to Chinese structures. By carefully judging the necessity of modifiers and flexibly adjusting the way of expression, natural, powerful, and easily understood English texts can be produced. This process is not only a language conversion but also an adaptation of ways of thinking—only by breaking free from the inertia of Chinese modifiers can truly effective communication be achieved.