《中式英语之鉴》阅读笔记6

听雨

Reader:岳庆泽
Reading time:5.7~5.21
Reading task:中式英语之鉴 Chapter11~13
Chapter 11 talked about parallel structure, and I found it very practical. When we list items or ideas in English, they should follow the same form. For example, if we start with a verb, we should continue with verbs. If we mix nouns, adjectives, and verbs, the sentence becomes confusing or awkward. In Chinese, this kind of variation is often acceptable, but not in English. This helped me reflect on my writing habits. I often rush when writing lists or comparisons, and don’t notice that the sentence structure has become uneven. From now on, I’ll pay more attention to consistency. I will take the time to carefully review my sentences and ensure that each item in a list is grammatically consistent. Whether I’m writing a shopping list or a complex argument, I’ll make sure that the structure is parallel. This will not only make my writing clearer but also more professional. I can also practice by reading well-written texts and identifying the parallel structures used by the authors. This will help me internalize the concept and apply it more naturally in my own writing.

Chapter 12 focused on logical connectives, which are the words that guide the reader through the argument—like “however,” “therefore,” “furthermore,” etc. I used to think I could skip them if the meaning was obvious. But the book explained that English readers expect clear signs to understand the flow of ideas. This was a revelation for me. I realized that what might seem obvious to me might not be so clear to my readers. Logical connectives are like signposts on a road, guiding the reader from one point to another. Without them, the reader might get lost or confused. I will now make a conscious effort to use these connectives appropriately. I will think about the relationship between my ideas and choose the right connective to express that relationship. For example, if I want to show a contrast, I’ll use “however” or “nevertheless.” If I want to add more information, I’ll use “furthermore” or “moreover.” I can also practice by writing short essays and focusing on using logical connectives to make my arguments more coherent. I can ask a friend or a teacher to review my work and give me feedback on whether my use of connectives is effective.

Finally, Chapter 13 brought everything together. It reminded me that Chinglish is not just about poor word choices. It’s about different ways of thinking. Chinese is high-context and relies on shared understanding. English is low-context and needs everything to be stated clearly and directly. If I want to write good English, I need to change not only my grammar but also my thinking. This is a challenging but necessary step in my language learning journey. I need to shift my mindset from a high-context to a low-context way of thinking. This means that I can no longer assume that my readers will understand my meaning based on context alone. I have to be explicit and clear in my writing. I can practice this by writing in English more frequently and seeking feedback from native speakers. I can also read English texts and analyze how the authors convey their ideas clearly and directly. I can even join a writing group or a language exchange program to get more practice and feedback. By changing my way of thinking and writing, I will be able to produce more accurate and effective English.