Part one 阅读感悟

Sub^Tle

After reading the first part of Chinglish "Unnecessary Words", I deeply appreciate the beauty of simplicity in English expressions. Author Joan Pinkham systematically analyzes the common redundant phenomena in Chinglish through a large number of examples, providing learners with a valuable concise expression guide.

The book first emphasizes the problem of redundant nouns and verbs. In many Chinglish expressions, nouns and verbs become redundant because of semantic repetition or implicit context. for example, "for the people" in "living standards for the people" is redundant, because "living standards" themselves refer to human standards. Similarly, "make" in "make an improvement" is redundant, and it is more concise to use "improve" directly. These redundant expressions often result from the transfer of Chinese expression habits, while English prefers to use direct and explicit verbs.

In addition to nouns and verbs, the book also points out that Chinglish is often overloaded with modifiers, resulting in redundant expressions. For example, "mutual" in "mutual cooperation" is redundant, because "cooperation" itself means two-way. In addition, overuse of intensifiers and determiners can also weaken expression. In "convincingly proved", "convincingly proved" is redundant because "proved" has implied persuasion.

In order to correct these problems, Pinkham proposed specific changes. She emphasized the need to reveal the construction logic of concise English by comparing the examples before and after the revision. For example, abstract nouns are concretized and verbs are used to enhance the sense of dynamics. The logical relation is clarified through structural recombination to make the expression more clear. These suggestions not only help to correct redundant expressions, but also develop learners' sensitivity to English thinking.

For learners, Pinkham's revision suggestions are not mechanical cuts, but are based on the core principle of "clarity of expression." In certain contexts, some redundant words may be necessary. Therefore, we need to combine the text type flexible judgment. For intermediate and advanced learners, this book can effectively enhance the sensitivity to redundant expressions; For beginners, because of the difficulty of example sentences (such as political texts), it may take more time and practice to gradually master.

To sum up, the first part of Chinglish is not only a "guide to correct mistakes", but also reveals the essence of English thinking - to prioritize brevity and logic. As the author says, language, like design, needs to convey the core message through the minimalism of "saving words like gold". This concept has far-reaching significance for translation and writing practice and is worth studying and practicing repeatedly. Through continuous practice and reflection, we can gradually develop the ability to express ourselves succinctly and clearly.