《中式英语之鉴》chapter4-6读后感

wenyikk

Reader: 文心怡
Reading Time: 8-9weeks
Reading Task: Chapter4-6
Summary of the Content：
Types of Repetitive Expressions: There are various types of repetitive expressions in Chinglish. Simple restatement means expressing the same idea in different words. For example, in "we must practice economy and reduce unnecessary expenditures", "practice economy" and "reduce unnecessary expenditures" have similar meanings. Self-evident statements are those where one idea is implicit in another. For instance, in "By renovating and expanding a number of chemical fertilizer plants... Meanwhile, to increase soil fertility...", "to increase soil fertility" is the natural purpose of fertilizing and does not need to be stated explicitly. Mirror-image statements present the same idea in a positive and then a negative form, such as "We should pay close attention to the formulation of annual plans and not neglect it".
Methods for Dealing with Repetition: When faced with repetition in English translations, several methods can be used. Re-examine the original Chinese text to discover misunderstood or overlooked meanings, thus eliminating redundancy. For example, in the case of the repetition of "communications equipment" and "means of communication". If there is no additional meaning, redundant words can be deleted or replaced. For example, "He stressed that all State Council departments have an important responsibility... and said they are in a very important position" can be simplified to "He stressed that all State Council departments have an important responsibility...". For important texts, the wording can be changed to make the repetition less obvious. In some cases, if the repetition provides emphasis, it can be retained.
Pronouns and Related Issues: The use of pronouns must follow certain rules. Every pronoun should have a clear and logical antecedent, and the antecedent should be explicitly stated, unambiguous, close to the pronoun, and grammatically consistent. However, there are often errors in the use of pronouns in Chinglish. For example, when the antecedent is not explicitly stated, the pronoun has no clear reference, as in "The second question concerns close planting. It should neither be spread out too thinly nor planted too closely." Or the antecedent is ambiguous, making it difficult for readers to determine what the pronoun refers to, such as in "Since the purchase of grain is mostly entrusted to state companies... their regulating role is restricted." where the reference of "their" is unclear. There are also cases where the antecedent is too far from the pronoun, causing comprehension difficulties, like in "In the meantime, the U.S. government increased its aid to the KMT government... On June 17 they signed the Sino - American Lend - Lease Agreement..." where "they" is misused. Additionally, there are instances where the pronoun and the antecedent do not agree in number, such as "If each enterprise goes it alone, they will never be able to improve the quality of their products."
Word Order Issues: In English, word order has a significant impact on the meaning and emphasis of a sentence. Incorrect placement of phrases and clauses can lead to logical errors or incorrect emphasis. For example, in "In an article celebrating the 28th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in 1949, Mao Zedong said...", the position of "in 1949" is incorrect, resulting in a wrong modifying object. To make the sentence logical and emphasize the correct point, the word order needs to be arranged reasonably. Generally, important information should be placed at the end of the sentence, and subordinate information at the beginning or in the middle. For example, after adjusting the word order in "After more than twenty days of exhausting marches and heavy combat, they reached the Dabie Mountains in late August.", the emphasis is more prominent.
Evaluation：
Practicality of the Content: This part of the content is of great value for learning English writing and translation. It systematically analyzes common problems in Chinglish such as repetitive expressions, pronoun usage, and word order. Through numerous and specific examples, it shows the manifestations and modification methods of various problems, helping readers accurately identify and correct Chinglish expressions and improve the accuracy and fluency of their English expressions.The author's analysis of each problem is in - depth and detailed. Not only does it point out the problems, but it also explains the underlying language logic and cultural differences. For example, when explaining the problem of pronoun usage, the differences in pronoun usage habits between Chinese and English are mentioned, allowing readers to understand the root causes of the problems. This in - depth analysis helps readers master the correct expression methods essentially. The large number of examples in the book cover different types of texts and contexts, enabling readers to learn in diverse scenarios. Whether they are examples from political documents, news reports, or daily writing, readers can encounter various possible language problems, enhancing their understanding and application ability of the knowledge points.
Reflection：
When it comes to word order arrangement, I often fail to highlight the key points or create logical confusion due to the influence of Chinese thinking. After reading this part of the content, I've realized the need to pay more attention to details and develop the habit of checking and revising my work.