书评

  The Translator's Guide to Chinglish by Joan Pinkham has become one of my favorite reference books recently. For Chinese students, thinking in our mother tongue while writing English is an unavoidable problem. We translate Chinese word for word, which creates awkward Chinglish that native speakers cannot understand well. This book aims to fix exactly this problem.

  Different from ordinary English textbooks, it does not start with grammar or vocabulary lists. It divides common Chinglish errors into clear categories, including redundant nouns, unnecessary modifiers, mismatched collocations and messy sentence structures. As a native English speaker with rich translation experience, the author analyzes problems from an outsider’s perspective, so the reasons she gives are convincing and easy to accept.

  While reading, I found many mistakes that I had made unconsciously. I used to think more words mean better writing, so I often used two similar words together to emphasize meaning. Later I realized such expressions are totally redundant in English. The author also tells us the differences between Chinese and English thinking modes: Chinese likes to repeat and explain, while English prefers direct and clear expression.

  Of course, the book also has its limits. Most examples are chosen from formal documents and written translations, so it offers little guidance for daily oral English. But this small flaw does not affect its value. It is especially suitable for students who need to do English composition and translation exercises.

  Learning from this book, I gradually change my writing habits. I no longer copy Chinese sentence patterns blindly. It helps me build real English thinking. In my opinion, this is a must-read book for anyone who wants to write authentic English.

2026-06-11

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