Book review
written by experienced American translator Joan Pinkham, is an essential and practical reference for every Chinese English learner and translator. Different from rigid grammar textbooks, this book targets Chinglish problems that are easily overlooked yet widely exist in Chinese learners’ English writing and translation, making it a groundbreaking guide for authentic English expression.
The core value of this book lies in its systematic summary of typical Chinglish errors rooted in thinking differences between Chinese and English. Pinkham classifies common mistakes into three major categories: unnecessary words, redundant expressions, and inappropriate collocations. Most Chinese learners write English sentences translated literally from Chinese logic, pursuing completeness and elaboration. However, authentic English emphasizes conciseness, precision and logical rigor. For example, many people habitually use redundant phrases that add no meaning, which makes English writing wordy and unnatural. With numerous real cases selected from official documents and daily writing, the book compares faulty and revised versions, clearly explaining the correction principles.
What makes this book unique is its focus on thinking transformation rather than mere error correction. It reveals that Chinglish is never just a language mistake, but a reflection of Chinese thinking patterns applied to English expression. Chinese tends to use repetition and general words to strengthen expression, while English advocates concise and direct wording. By analyzing these fundamental differences, the book helps readers abandon rigid translation thinking and gradually build native English logic.
As an English major student, I have benefited greatly from this book. It helps me identify invisible errors in my writing that grammar checks cannot find. It also cultivates my sensitivity to authentic English, enabling me to pursue simplicity and accuracy in expression rather than mechanical word translation.
In conclusion, The Translator’s Guide to Chinglish is a valuable textbook for English writing and translation learning. It not only corrects superficial language errors but also reshapes learners’ English thinking modes. It is an indispensable book for anyone who wants to get rid of Chinglish and write standard, authentic and professional English.
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