A Practical Diagnostic Tool for Translators

Joan Pinkham’s The Translator’s Guide to Chinglish is nothing short of a bible for Chinese-English translators. Drawing from eight years of experience revising translations for China’s Foreign Languages Press and the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, Pinkham presents a systematic classification of Chinglish errors with real-world examples. The book’s greatest strength lies in its diagnostic approach. Pinkham doesn’t just tell you that your English is awkward—she shows you exactly why. For instance, she demonstrates that phrases like “accelerate the pace of economic reform” should simply be “accelerate economic reform,” since “pace” adds no meaning. Each chapter is organized around a specific problem category—redundant nouns, excessive modifiers, synonym stacking, or repetitive expressions—followed by exercises with answer keys. This structure transforms the book from a passive reference into an active training manual. That said, the book is not without limitations. Most examples are drawn from official and formal documents, which limits its applicability to casual writing or everyday spoken English. Moreover, some of Pinkham’s corrections feel overly prescriptive. Language evolves, and certain once-dismissed Chinglish expressions—like “long time no see”—have gained mainstream acceptance. Yet even with these caveats, the book remains an indispensable resource. For anyone committed to producing clear, natural English translations, this guide offers a rigorous and rewarding path forward.