中式英语之鉴 part 2，chapter 7读书笔记

荣华富贵

Chapter 7 of Part Two in The Translator's Guide to Chinglish serves as a comprehensive summary, integrating the key points from previous chapters on sentence structure issues in Chinglish. It emphasizes that mastering English sentence construction requires more than just isolated grammar rules; it demands a holistic understanding of how language conveys meaning.

The chapter revisits common pitfalls like the "noun plague," where over - reliance on abstract nouns weakens sentence clarity, and dangling modifiers that create confusion. For instance, it illustrates how a phrase such as "After finishing the report, the meeting was called" (a dangling modifier) can be revised to "After I finished the report, I called the meeting" for better logical flow. It also reminds readers of the importance of parallel structure, as in "The project involves planning, executing, and evaluating" rather than the incorrect "The project involves planning, executing, and to evaluate."

Moreover, the chapter stresses that effective translation from Chinese to English involves a deep - seated shift in thinking. Translators must break free from literal translation habits and adapt to English’s unique structural and rhetorical norms. By providing a final set of examples and exercises, it encourages readers to apply the learned techniques, reinforcing the idea that continuous practice is key to eliminating Chinglish and achieving natural, fluent English expression.