《中式英语之鉴》读后心得

Cristina

Reader：李海祎  Reading task：the whole book and reflection  Reading time：5.11-5.22
Summary of Contents：
It is a book that delves into the common pitfalls and characteristics of Chinglish. It provides a comprehensive overview of how Chinese speakers often inadvertently produce English sentences that are awkward or difficult to understand for native English speakers. The book categorizes various types of Chinglish errors. For example, it points out the issue of direct translation. Chinese speakers may translate word-for-word from Chinese to English, resulting in sentences like "I go to the library to study book", which is not natural in English. It also discusses the misuse of articles. In Chinese, there is no equivalent of articles like "a" and "the", so Chinese speakers might say "I see dog on street" instead of "I see a dog on the street". Additionally, the book highlights problems with verb tenses. Chinese does not have the same complex tense system as English, leading to errors such as "I go to school yesterday" instead of "I went to school yesterday". The book is filled with numerous examples and explanations to help readers understand the root causes of these errors and how to avoid them.
Evaluation
This book is highly valuable for Chinese learners of English. It is meticulously researched and well-organized. The author has clearly spent a lot of time gathering and analyzing real-life examples of Chinglish, which makes the content very practical and relatable. The explanations are clear and concise, making it easy for readers to grasp the concepts. The book is also very comprehensive, covering a wide range of errors that Chinese speakers are likely to make. It is not just a list of mistakes, but also provides insightful analysis and useful tips on how to improve. The book is well-written and engaging, making it an enjoyable read even for those who are not particularly interested in language learning. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is learning English as a second language in China or for Chinese teachers who are teaching English.
Reflection
Reading this book has been an eye-opening experience for me. I realized how deeply ingrained some of these Chinglish habits are in my own English usage. It made me more aware of the differences between Chinese and English and the importance of not just translating directly but also understanding the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target language. I now pay much more attention to my own writing and speaking, trying to avoid the common pitfalls highlighted in the book. It has also inspired me to be more patient and understanding when I encounter Chinglish from others. I understand that learning a new language is a challenging process and that making mistakes is a natural part of it. This book has not only improved my English skills but also deepened my appreciation for the complexity and beauty of language learning. I plan to continue using the insights from this book to further refine my English and to help others who are on the same journey.