中式英语之鉴 1

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Reader: 蔡心怡
Reading Time: 1~3week
Reading Task: Chapter 1  3~25

Chinese English, Chapter 1, dissects the pitfalls of redundant nouns and verbs in汉英 translation. Author Joan Pinkham reveals how Chinese conceptual thinking often leads to unnecessary overlaps—like labeling "先进劳动模范的事迹" as "advanced labor models’ exemplary deeds"—where "先进" and "模范" repeat similar meanings. Similarly, phrases such as "开展调查研究" ("carry out research") cling to hollow verbs like "开展," mimicking infants’ early babbling that lacks semantic focus.
   This resonated with my own translation struggles. Once, I proudly used "take measures to address the issue," only to realize "address the issue" alone suffices. Such redundancy resembles babies’ meaningless cries that dilute communication. Pinkham’s emphasis on "verb priority" transformed my approach: language evolves by pruning excess, much like infants discard redundant crying patterns by nine months to master rhythm and tone.
   The chapter underscores a universal truth: clarity emerges not from accumulation, but from subtraction. Just as babies refine their cries to convey precise needs, translators must strip away linguistic "fat" to let core meanings resonate. As Qian Zhongshu poeticly stated, "Reason in poetry is like salt in honey"—purest expression lies not in complexity, but in what remains after refinement.