中式英语之鉴Part2

邓雪丹

Reader:邓雪丹
Reading Time:3.16-3.30
Reading Task:中式英语之鉴Part 2
Summary of the Content：
This chapter critiques the overuse of abstract nouns in Chinglish, which often leads to wordy, vague sentences. The author argues that replacing abstract nouns with verbs, gerunds (-ing forms), or simpler adjectives/adverbs can enhance clarity and dynamism. For instance, restructuring phrases like "prove the correctness of" to "prove that something is correct" eliminates redundancy. Additionally, the author highlights the Chinese tendency to stack nouns as modifiers (e.g., "state assets management institutions"), which confuses English readers. Solutions include inserting prepositions or verbs to clarify relationships, such as rewriting phrases into "institutions responsible for managing state assets."  
Evaluation:
The author’s analysis effectively targets a pervasive issue in Chinglish, offering actionable strategies to simplify expressions. Emphasizing active verbs over static nouns aligns with English’s preference for directness, particularly in informal or professional communication. However, the advice may clash with formal contexts (e.g., academic writing) where abstract nouns are conventional. The critique of noun clusters is compelling but risks oversimplification, as some technical terms inherently require noun-based phrasing. A clearer distinction between necessary jargon and avoidable clutter would strengthen the argument.  
Reflection:
This section reshapes my understanding of linguistic differences: Chinese relies on context to interpret noun clusters, while English demands explicit logical links. Adopting verb-driven structures challenges my habit of translating Chinese noun-heavy patterns directly. While revising drafts, I now prioritize breaking down phrases like "technology innovation system" into "a system for innovating technology." Yet, balancing conciseness with formality remains tricky. For example, replacing "implementation" with "carry out" works in emails but might dilute precision in reports. The chapter underscores the need to adapt phrasing to context while resisting the allure of "sounding sophisticated" through unnecessary abstraction.