中式英语之鉴2

加菲猫

Diving into the second chapter of “The Translator’s Guide to Chinglish,” I was introduced to another prevalent issue in Chinese English (Chinglish): the use of unnecessary modifiers. This chapter effectively highlighted how excessive or redundant modifiers can clutter sentences, making them less clear and more difficult to understand for native English speakers.

The authors illustrated this point with numerous examples, showing how certain adjectives, adverbs, and phrases are often unnecessarily added to sentences. For instance, phrases like “completely eliminate” or “successfully achieve” were critiqued for their redundancy. The verbs “eliminate” and “achieve” already imply completeness and success, making the modifiers “completely” and “successfully” unnecessary.

One of the key insights I gained from this chapter was the importance of conciseness in English writing. In Chinese, it might be common to use more descriptive language, but in English, brevity is often preferred. This difference in linguistic style is a crucial aspect that Chinese English speakers need to be aware of.

Moreover, the chapter discussed how unnecessary modifiers can sometimes alter the intended meaning of a sentence or make it sound awkward. For example, the phrase “drinking too much is bad for one’s health” is more natural and direct than “to drink too much is bad for one’s health.” The latter sounds less fluent due to the unnecessary use of the infinitive form.

The practical approach of the chapter, with its clear examples and explanations, helped me understand how to identify and avoid unnecessary modifiers in my own writing. The exercises at the end of the chapter were particularly useful, as they provided an opportunity to apply the concepts learned.

In conclusion, the second chapter of “The Translator’s Guide to Chinglish” was immensely enlightening. It has not only improved my awareness of unnecessary modifiers in English but also enhanced my ability to write more clearly and concisely. This chapter is a valuable resource for anyone looking to refine their English writing skills and avoid common pitfalls associated with Chinglish.