1、1Part One: Unnecessary WordsAll authorities on the style of English prose agree that good writing is concise. Careful writers say what they mean in as few words as possible.Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same
2、 reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.It follows that any words which perform no useful function in the sentencethat is , which add nothing to the meaningshould be edited out. Almost every text that has been translated into English from Chinese( o
3、r that has been written directly in English by a native speaker of Chinese) contains unnecessary words. Draft translations are commonly full of them, and even polished final versions are seldom free of them.Read anything that has been published in English for foreign readersa magazine article, a new
4、s story, an advertisement, a government reportand you are likely to find superfluous words. Read even the shortest of English textsthe label on a food product , a billboard on Changan , the company name on the front of a buildingand , if you are on the alert to recognize them, chances are that you w
5、ill find words that could and should have been omitted. Unnecessary words are the hallmark of Chinglish.Unnecessary words can be any part of speechnouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, articles, and so on. In the following chapters we shall consider the most important types, starting with
6、 unnecessary nouns and verbs, which often go hand in hand.I .Unnecessary Nouns and VerbsNounsMost unnecessary nouns in Chinglish appear not alone but in short phrases, combined with articles and prepositions. When you eliminate the nouns , you eliminate the articles and prepositions as well.Many of
7、these nouns are easy to recognize. They are plainly redundant because their sense is already included or implied in some other element of the sentence. Here are a few examples (A) with suggested revisions (B)and comments in brackets.加快经济改革步伐A: to accelerate the pace of economic reformB: to accelerat
8、e economic reform (To accelerate = to increase the pace of )农业获得大丰收A: There have been good harvests in agriculture.B: There have been good harvests.“Harvest” implies agriculture: there are no harvests in industry.城乡人民生活水平持续上升。A: Living standards for the people in both urban and rural areas continued
9、 to rise.B: Living standards in both urban and rural areas continued to rise.【The notion of living standards applies only to people.】这些困难从本质上说是暂时的。A： These hardships are temporary in nature.B: These hardships are temporary.Any adjectives describes the “ nature” or “character” of the noun it modifies
10、 . To say that 2hardships are “temporary in nature” is like saying that the Chinese flag is red in color” or that pandas are few in number.”我国未来的经济发展在很大程度上有赖于A：The development of our economy in the future will, to a large extent, depend onB: The development of our economy will, to a large extent, de
11、pend on The future tense of the verb(will depend) is sufficient to express futurity.我们应采取一系列措施来保证A: we should adopt a series of measures to ensure that.B: we should adopt measures to ensure that.Here the plural form of “measures” covers the sense of a “series”Other unnecessary nouns(or gerunds) may
12、be less easy to identify. Nevertheless, a little thought will reveal that they add nothing to the meaning of the sentence. When they are deleted, the sense is not diminished, only clarified. Some examples:在实现农业机械化和电气化后A：following the realization of mechanization and electrification of agricultureB：f
13、ollowing the of mechanization and electrification of agriculture必须加强国防建设。A: It is essential to strengthen the building of national defense.B: It is essential to strengthen national defense.这些构成了努力实现过渡时期的伟大任务的重要条件。A: These constitute important conditions in striving for the fulfillment of the general
14、 task in the transitional period.B: These are important conditions for fulfilling the general task in the transition period.当时，东北的形势仍然是敌强我弱。A: At that time the situation in northeast China was still one where the enemy was stronger than the peoples forces .B: At that time the enemy was still stronge
15、r than the peoples forces in northeast China.“Situation“ is a particularly dangerous noun. Not only is it generally unnecessary, but it drags other unnecessary elements after it (in this instance, “one where“).解决问题的关键在于削减开支。A: The key to the solution lies in the curtailment of expenditure.B: The sol
16、ution is to curtail ( or. cut back on) expenditure.“Key“ is sometimes useful, but usually it too can be dispensed with. And like “situation,“ it often leads to further unnecessary complications (here, “lies in“). 党内民主是已详细讨论过的问题。A: Inner-Party democracy is a subject that has been discussed in detail.
17、B: Inner-Party democracy has been discussed in detail.Category nounsThere is one type of noun that deserves special mention, because it is the commonest unnecessary word in Chinglish. This is the general noun that serves only to introduce a specific noun( or gerund) to follow: “ a serious mistake in
18、 the work of planning.计划工作中的错误。In such constructions, the first noun announces the category of the second; in this case, it tells readers that “planning” falls into the category of “work”. That is something they already know. Accordingly, the first nouns should be deleted a serious mistake in planni
19、ng.3Other examples: 促进和平统一事业A : promoting the cause of peaceful reunificationB: promoting peaceful reunification经济领域的改革A: reforms in the sphere of the economy B: reforms in the economy (or economic reforms)保证双方之间的亲密合作关系A to ensure a relationship of close cooperation between.B to ensure close coopera
20、tion between我们必须反对铺张浪费的行为。A: We must oppose the practice of extravaganceB: We must oppose extravagance.这些原则适应于处理中外关系中的所有情况A: These principles apply to all cases of relations between China and other countries.B: These principles apply to relations between China and all other countries.这种情况，加上价格不稳定的因素
21、，引起.A: This, coupled with the factor of price instability, caused.B: This, coupled with price instability, caused.Whatever function the category noun serves in Chinese, in English it is generally useless. All it adds to the sentence is weight without substance.VerbsLike unnecessary nouns, most unnec
22、essary verbs in Chinglish occur in phrases. Usually they are combined with nouns(plus the inevitable articles and prepositions that nouns bring with them). These phrases are of two principal types:1. Unnecessary verbs plus noun2. Unnecessary verb plus unnecessary noun plus third wordwe shall look at
23、 first one and then the other.1. Unnec.verb+nounThe commonest type is a phrase like “we must make an improvement in our work.” Here the verb(make) is a weak, colorless, all-purpose word having no very specific meaning of its own, while the real action is expressed in the noun (improvement).Since the
24、 verb is not contributing anything to the sense, it can be edited out. “ We must improve our work.”The basic pattern is unnec.verb+noun. Both translators and polishers tend to overlook constructions of this sort, because they are grammatically correct and becausepreciselyeveryone is so accustomed to
25、 them. Once you became alert to the pattern, however, it is easy enough to eliminate the unnecessary words by substituting plain verbs.我们想在一夜之间完成整个社会的变革是不可能的。A：It is impossible for us to accomplish the transformation of the whole society overnight.4B：It is impossible for us to transform the whole so
26、ciety overnight.他们应该对.进行仔细的检查。A: They should conduct a careful examination ofB: They should carefully examine.试图诱使朝鲜军队对他们发动一场攻击。A：trying to entice the Korean army to launch an attack against themB：trying to entice the Korean army to attack them改变这种局面A: to bring about a change in this state of affair
27、sB: to change this state of affairs他们必须下决心对现存体制进行改革。A: They must make up their minds to implement the reform of the current system.B: They must make up their minds to reform the current system.直到中国实现工业现代化。A: until China realizes industrial modernizationB: until China modernizes its industryThe const
28、ruction may also appear in passive voice. That is, instead of “we must make improvement in our work,” we find “ an improvement must be made in our work.” But this is only a variation of the same pattern, and the solution is the same too: substitution a plain verb. The result is our work must be impr
29、oved. (because “to make an improvement in”= “to improve”)More examples in passive voice:应当批准所有这些项目。A: Approval should be given to all these projects.B: All these projects should be approved.because “to give approval to ”= “to approve”只有通过.才能找出解决这些问题的办法。A: Solutions to these problems can be found onl
30、y throughB: These problems can be solved only throughbecause “to find solution to”= “to solve”实行粮食配给A: Grain rationing was implementedB: Grain was rationed.Because “to implement rationing”= “to ration”The verb most frequently found in these combinations with nouns is to make:To make an investigation
31、 of = to investigateTo make a careful study of = to study carefullyTo make a decision to = to decide to To make a proposal that = to propose that To make efforts to = to try( attempt) to To make an analysis of = to analyzeThe runner-up is doubtless to haveTo have a dislike for = to dislike5To have a
32、n influence on = to influenceTo have adequate knowledge of = to know enough aboutTo have the need of = to needTo have request for = to respectBut many others can be seen on every pages as well:To give guidance to = to guideTo provide assistance to = to assistTo carry out the struggle against= to str
33、uggle againstTo conduct reform of= to reformTo engage in free discussion of = to discuss(it) freely To achieve success in = to succeed inTo accomplish the modernization of = to modernizeTo realize the transformation of = to transformTo bring about an improvement in = to improveTo place stress on = t
34、o stressTo exercise control over= to controlTo register an increase= to increaseYou should be on watch for all of them.2. Unnec.verb +unnec.noun+ third wordAs we have seen in the first type of phrase a vague and general verb, incapable of expressing specific action, shifts the responsibility for tha
35、t task onto a noun. In the second type, however, the noun cannot perform the task either.Consider “our efforts to reach the goal of modernization”. Here the noun (goal) is no more precise than the verb (reach). (Indeed, “the goal of” is another example of the superfluous category noun.) This means t
36、hat the work of the verb has to be done by still another word, a second noun (“modernization”). Since now the first noun is not doing anything useful in the sentence, it too can be eliminated, along with the all-purpose verb. The result is, “our efforts to modernize” In the phrases of this type, the
37、 basic pattern unnec. verb+ noun has been expanded to unnec. Verb+unnec. Noun+ third word. As in the example above, the third word is usually another noun( or gerund).Since this new noun is performing the function of a verb, it should be given the form of a verb.我军缓慢前进A: Our troops used the method o
38、f slow advance.B: Our troops advanced slowly.需要三个师的驻军来执行守卫仓库的任务。A: Three garrison divisions were necessary to perform the task of guarding warehouses.B: Three garrison divisions were necessary to guard warehouses.我们决定后撤。A: We adopted the policy of withdrawal.6B: We withdrew.(or decided to withdraw.)
39、This was a particular tactical retreat, not a general military policy.在所有问题上我们都要采取“知之为知之，不知为不知”的态度。A: In all matters we must assume the attitude of admitting what we do and do not know.B: We should always (be ready to) admit what we do and do not know.我们应坚持解决人民的眼前困难同长远发展相结合的原则。A: We should adopt the
40、 principle of combining solutions to peoples immediate difficulties with long-term development.B: We should combine solving peoples immediate problems with promoting long-term development.A further simplification would be we should try to solve peoples immediate problems and at the same time to prom
41、ote long-term development.我们需要在意识形态上保持清醒的头脑。A: We need to achieve the objective of clarity in ideology.B: We need to be clear in our ideology.But sometimes the third word called upon to do the verb-work is an adjective. Then it is the adjective that should be promoted to the rank of verb, while the
42、idle words are dismissed from service.该措施将限制投机活动。A: This measure will have a restrictive effect on the activities of speculators.B: This measure will restrict the activities of speculators. And sometimes the third word is another verb. Again , only the functioning word need be retained.我们未能保证在既定目标间保持全面的平衡。A: We failed to take care to ensure that there must be an all-round balance between the various planned targets.B: We failed to ensure an all-round balance between the planned targets.“There must be ”merely duplicates the sense of “ensure”. “Various” adds nothing to the plural “targets”
