Reflection on Chapter 3 of The Translator’s Guide to Chinglish

Livia

Chapter 3 of The Translator’s Guide to Chinglish focuses on "Unnecessary Modifiers," a critical issue in Chinese-to-English translation that leads to verbose and unnatural expressions. This chapter systematically dissects how redundant adjectives, adverbs, and phrases—often influenced by Chinese linguistic habits—clutter English sentences, obscuring clarity and conciseness. Through examples and analyses, the author, Joan Pinkham, emphasizes the importance of stripping away superfluous modifiers to achieve the "vigorous writing" advocated by Strunk and White in The Elements of Style.  
Key Points from Chapter 3  
1. Redundant Emphasis: Chinese tends to use paired adjectives or adverbs for emphasis (e.g., "彻底解决" translated as "thoroughly solve"), while English often relies on context or stronger verbs alone. For instance, "solve" inherently implies completeness, making "thoroughly" redundant.  
2. Overuse of Intensifiers: Words like "very," "greatly," or "extremely" are frequently overused in translations. Pinkham argues that in English, such modifiers often dilute rather than enhance meaning. For example, "very unique" is illogical since "unique" is absolute.  
3. Cultural Nuances in Modifiers: Chinese expressions like "认真贯彻落实" might be translated as "conscientiously implement," but the adverb "conscientiously" adds little value in English and reflects a bureaucratic tone uncommon in natural English.  
4. Simplification through Context: Many modifiers can be omitted if the context already implies their meaning. For example, "accelerate the pace of reform" becomes "accelerate reform," as "pace" is redundant with "accelerate".  
Personal Reflections  
Reading this chapter was both humbling and enlightening. As a Chinese native speaker, I recognized my own tendency to "over-decorate" sentences with modifiers, a habit rooted in Chinese rhetoric that values elaboration. For instance, in academic writing, I often used phrases like "make great efforts to improve" instead of the simpler "improve". Pinkham’s critique forced me to confront how such habits hinder effective communication in English.  
One example that struck me was the translation of "党内民主是一个经过了详细讨论的话题" as "Inner-party democracy has been discussed in detail." Initially, I might have added "a topic that" for structural symmetry, but Pinkham’s revision demonstrates how brevity enhances clarity. This aligns with George Orwell’s rule: "If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out".  
However, I also questioned whether some "unnecessary" modifiers might serve stylistic or cultural purposes. For instance, Chinese official documents often use formulaic phrases to convey formality or authority. While Pinkham advocates for simplicity, I wonder if certain contexts (e.g., diplomatic translations) require retaining such nuances, even at the cost of conciseness. This tension between linguistic purity and functional adaptation remains a challenge.  
Conclusion  
Chapter 3 underscores a fundamental principle: English thrives on precision and economy of words. By scrutinizing every modifier, translators can avoid the "Chinglish" trap and produce texts that resonate with native speakers. For me, this chapter is not just a guide to translation but a lesson in thinking in English. Moving forward, I aim to internalize Pinkham’s advice by practicing minimalist writing and immersing myself in English media to develop an intuitive sense of natural expression.  
As Pinkham reminds us, "Good English is direct, simple, and clear"—a mantra worth embracing for anyone striving to bridge linguistic and cultural divides.