Unnecessary Nouns and Verbs

辰什么辰

Reader:王婷
Reading Time:2.20-2.28
Reading Task: Unnecessary Nouns and Verbs

Summary of the Content:
This chapter dissects redundant nouns and verbs in Chinglish, categorizing them into three types:
Redundant Nouns: Words that repeat meaning already implied (e.g: “harvests in agriculture” → “harvests”).
Empty Nouns: Words that add no content( “make a decision” →“decide”).
Category Nouns: Generic nouns introducing specific terms (“policy of reform” → “reform”).
The author uses examples like “accelerate the pace of economic reform” → “accelerate economic reform” to show how removing unnecessary nouns/verbs tightens sentences. She emphasizes replacing “unnec. verb + noun” structures (e.g: “make an improvement” → “improve”) to make English more direct.

Evaluation:
Pinkham’s style is analytical yet accessible, using before/after examples to highlight improvements.The chapter’s theme—“Conciseness through verb           prioritization”—aligns with Strunk’s principle of "no unnecessary words." By contrasting Chinese and English habits, she reveals how literal translations often clutter sentences with abstract nouns, weakening clarity.

Reflection:
As an English learner, I often default to “make + noun” phrases (e.g: “make a plan”) without realizing verbs like “plan” suffice. This chapter challenges me to ask: Does this noun add unique meaning? For instance, “carry out an investigation” can safely become “investigate.” Applying this in essays will make my writing more vigorous, like replacing “have a discussion” with “discuss.”