PART 1-II

Mein9

Having delved into the insightful text "A Handbook of English Rhetoric for Chinese Learners: Identifying and Avoiding Chinglish Expressions," particularly the section on Unnecessary Modifiers, I have gained a profound understanding of the nuances that distinguish fluent English from Chinglish. This reading has not only enhanced my linguistic awareness but also prompted me to reflect on the subtleties involved in translating from Chinese to English.
One of the most striking takeaways for me was the meticulous categorization of unnecessary modifiers into five distinct types: redundant modifiers, self-evident modifiers, intensifiers, qualifiers, and cliches. Each category was explored with detailed examples, illustrating how certain adjectives and adverbs, while common in Chinese, often add nothing but clutter to English sentences.
Redundant modifiers, for instance, are those that either repeat the meaning inherent in the word they modify or provide information already implied by the context. Examples like "female businesswoman" and "new innovations" stood out, reminding me of the importance of paring down my language to its essence. Similarly, the use of time adverbs such as "now" and "previously" when the tense of the verb conveys the same information hit home, urging me to be more mindful of the redundancy in my writing.
Self-evident modifiers, on the other hand, encompass words and phrases that provide information deemed obvious or universally understood. Instances like "national economic strength" and "proper readjustment" underscored the need for concision, teaching me that in English, less is often more. This insight encouraged me to reevaluate my own writing, ensuring that every word serves a purpose and adds value to the sentence.
The section on intensifiers was particularly eye-opening. Adjectives and adverbs intended to heighten the impact of a word, like "greatly" or "extremely," can often weaken a sentence if used indiscriminately. The classic example of "great historic" contributions resonated with me,