Preparing for Reading《中式英语之鉴》

悦悦悦

Preparing for Reading《中式英语之鉴》
Introduction:
The Translator’s Guide to Chinglish by Joan Pinkham is a seminal work in the field of English language learning and translation, especially for Chinese learners and translators. Published in 2000, this book emerged at a time when China's international engagement was rapidly increasing, leading to a greater need for accurate and effective English communication. The prevalence of Chinglish, a hybrid form of English influenced by Chinese language structures and cultural concepts, was a significant issue that hampered clear cross - cultural communication. Pinkham’s book aimed to address this problem by providing a comprehensive guide to identifying and rectifying common Chinglish errors.
About the Author:
Joan Pinkham, an American by nationality, had a long and distinguished career in translation. She graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University and obtained her master’s degree from Middlebury College. During her master’s studies, she received a Fulbright scholarship to study at the University of Paris. Her early professional experience included working as a bilingual secretary at the World Health Organization’s liaison office at the United Nations headquarters in New York for a decade. Later, she became a freelance translator, with many of her translations of important works receiving high acclaim. Pinkham’s most relevant experience for this book was her eight - year tenure at the Foreign Languages Press and the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau in China. Here, she was responsible for revising and polishing English translations made by Chinese translators, which allowed her to amass a wealth of real - world examples of Chinglish.
Content Overview:
The book systematically explores the various manifestations of Chinglish. Pinkham categorizes Chinglish errors into different types, such as redundancy, wordiness, inappropriate use of words, and incorrect syntactic structures. To illustrate these categories, she provides a vast number of examples sourced from diverse materials. These include translations of the selected works of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, and important official Chinese documents, as well as articles from English - language newspapers and journals in China.
For instance, in the section on redundancy, she might point out examples like “mutual cooperation” (since “cooperation” already implies a mutual action, the word “mutual” is redundant). Each example is not only presented but also critically analyzed. Pinkham explains why the original Chinglish expression is incorrect and how it can be improved to conform to standard English usage. Additionally, at the end of each chapter, there are exercises for readers to practice identifying and correcting Chinglish. Answers are provided, which serve as valuable learning aids for self - study.
Significance of the Book:
Enhancing English Proficiency: For Chinese learners of English, this book is an invaluable resource. By studying the common Chinglish mistakes and their corrections, learners can improve their understanding of standard English grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. It helps them avoid making these errors in their own writing and speaking, thus enhancing their overall English proficiency.
Improving Translation Quality: For professional translators working from Chinese to English, the book is a must - have reference. It equips them with the tools to identify and eliminate Chinglish in their translations, ensuring that the translated texts are accurate, fluent, and convey the intended meaning clearly. This is especially important in the context of international communication, where high - quality translations are crucial for effective diplomacy, business, and academic exchanges.
Cultural and Linguistic Insights: The book also offers insights into the cultural and linguistic differences between Chinese and English. By understanding how Chinese language and cultural concepts can influence English expressions in the form of Chinglish, readers gain a deeper appreciation of both languages. This cross - cultural understanding is essential for successful communication in a globalized world.
In conclusion, The Translator’s Guide to Chinglish is a highly practical and insightful book that has made a significant contribution to the field of English language learning and translation. It remains relevant today, as the need for accurate English communication continues to grow in China and around the world.