Chapter 2&3

池无完船

After delving into Chapter 2, "Unnecessary Nouns and Verbs," and Chapter 3, "Redundant Modifiers," of The Translator's Guide to Chinglish, I have gained a more profound and comprehensive understanding of the typical problems in Chinglish. I have also developed new insights into the essence of English writing and translation.

Chapter 2 focuses on analyzing the phenomenon of redundant nouns and verbs in Chinglish. In the Chinese language, we often use general verbs such as "进行" (carry out), "开展" (launch), and "作出" (make) to form phrases like "进行研究" (carry out the research), "开展活动" (launch the activity), and "作出决定" (make the decision). Such expressions are natural and fluent in the Chinese context. However, when directly translated into English, they tend to result in redundant expressions like "carry out the research," "launch the activity," and "make the decision." English prefers to use a precise verb, such as "research," "activate," or "decide," to convey the meaning directly, making the sentence more concise and powerful. At the same time, the chapter also points out the problem of redundant nouns. For example, in the phrase "the question of whether," the word "question" is unnecessary, and it is sufficient to use "whether" directly. The root cause of this phenomenon lies in the differences in thinking patterns between Chinese and English. Chinese emphasizes the description of the process and the laying of groundwork, while English emphasizes the direct transmission of information. Through studying this chapter, I have realized that in the process of English writing and translation, I need to break free from the constraints of Chinese thinking and learn to organize language according to the logic and expression of English, deleting unnecessary nouns and verbs to make the sentence more in line with the reading habits of native English speakers.

Chapter 3 focuses on the problem of redundant modifiers. In Chinglish, we are often accustomed to using a large number of modifiers to emphasize or supplement the central word, believing that this can make the expression richer and more accurate. However, in English, the excessive use of modifiers often appears cumbersome and weakens the strength of the expression. For example, in "completely eliminate," the word "eliminate" already contains the meaning of "completely," so adding "completely" is redundant. Another example is "in my personal opinion," where the word "opinion" already reflects a personal view, and the word "personal" is redundant. The redundancy of these modifiers not only increases the length of the sentence but may also confuse the reader and make it difficult to grasp the key points. English pursues concise, clear, and precise expressions. Effective modifiers should only be used when it is truly necessary to emphasize or supplement key information and should be used appropriately. This has made me understand that in English writing, I need to learn to control the use of modifiers, carefully consider the necessity of each word, and achieve the refinement of language expression.
These two chapters not only reveal the common error forms of Chinglish but also deeply explore the cultural and thinking differences behind them. After learning, I have deeply realized that English learning is by no means simply the accumulation of vocabulary and grammar but requires the cultivation of English thinking. In my daily study, I will pay more attention to reading original English books and articles and analyze the expressions and writing logic of native English speakers. When practicing writing and translation, I will take the initiative to "slim down" my works, deleting redundant elements to make the language more concise and idiomatic. At the same time, this knowledge also reminds me that in cross-cultural communication, I need to fully consider the differences in language expression habits, avoid misunderstandings caused by Chinglish, and strive to improve the accuracy and fluency of language use.