International Conference on Arts, Economics and Literature (ICAEL'2012) December 14-15, 2012 Singapore A Tentative Study on Lexical Characteristics of China English ZHOU Ying culture there is western style, while English in the Outer Circle Abstract—With its global spread，English has gradually is greatly influenced by local languages and bears non-western changing its role to serve the purpose of international cultures. The Extending Circle covers a large part of the world communication. A new concept of “Egnlishes” has come into with various cultural backgrounds. It is also where the western existence to refer to different English varieties in non-native speaking culture meets the eastern culture. The development of English countries. China is not free from the influence of the global spread of English. The nativized form of English in Chinese cultural context, in non-native speaking countries has inevitably attached local which is termed as China English, turns out to be inevitable and features to the language, due to its use in different cultural necessary to serve the purpose of international communication. After settings. The localized or nativized forms of English have introducing the concept of “China English”, this paper focuses on the become essential parts of those countries in their characteristics of China English at the lexical level. The author communication with the outside world. categorizes China English vocabulary into two parts, that is borrowed China is not free from the influence of the global spread of words and nativized expressions, with a closer look respectively, then analyzes the semantic changes of these words used in Chinese English. The nativized form of English in Chinese cultural context, and in the last part discusses some problems concerning context, which is termed as China English, turns out to be China English vocabulary. inevitable and necessary[3]. China English serves as a bridge between China and the rest of the world and promote the Keywords—borrowed, China English, Englishes, lexical international exchange; it enriches the ways of expression of characteristics, nativzed the English language and contributes to the development of English as an international language. Studying the proper use I. INTRODUCTION—WORLD ENGLISHES AND CHINA ENGLISH of China English helps the Chinese get better understood by ITH it global spread, the English language today is no the rest of the world. Since words are the most active part and W longer limited to British or American English, but has the basic elements of a language and they best reflect the gradually changing its role to serve the purpose of culture of the people who use it, the most salient international communication. The traditional concept of characteristics of China English present in its lexis. English is facing an unprecedented challenge. Many new names were given to it such as an international language, a II. LEXICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CHINA ENGLISH global language and a lingua franca[1], which established the The lexical feature of China English refers to the status of English in world communication. The word vocabulary expressing things unique to China and reflecting “English” also gained its plural form and the last twenty years the Chinese way of thinking. According to Li Wenzhong, the or so have seen a rapid growth of interest in the study of vocabulary of China English contains two parts: one is “World Englishes”, a new linguistic theory focusing on the Chinese borrowings or loan words already absorbed into English varieties used in different parts of the world, English dictionaries home and abroad and widely used in especially in non-native speaking countries. English speaking countries, and the other is those that haven’t The most influential theoretical model—the Three been collected in English dictionaries but used in international Concentric Circles of English, best describes the global publicity, tourism and foreign affairs, expressing the situation of the English languages. The Inner Circle covers the uniqueness of Chinese nation and culture[4]. least population and English in its countries, as the mother A. Borrowed Words tongue, is obtained by natural acquisition and functions in all- Intercultural communication leads to the blend of language round fields. The Outer Circle includes the non-native and culture. Linguistic borrowing embodies the main varieties of English used as a second language. The third and characteristics of the intercultural blend. Borrowing is a the largest circle, the Extending Circle, covers the regions natural process of language change whereby one language where English is used as a foreign language[2]. English in the adds new words to its own lexis by copying those words from Inner Circle is hardly influenced by other languages and the another language[5]. The words borrowed are called loan words or borrowings. One of the initial reasons for borrowing Ying Zhou is with Shanghai University of Enginneering Science, is when one language has semantic gaps in its lexis and needs Shanghai, CO 200336 CHINA (phone: 86-13761627584; fax: 86-21- to borrow a term to express the necessary idea or concept[5]. 62750055*308; e-mail:[email protected]). Therefore, borrowing is a result of language contact and thus a 117 International Conference on Arts, Economics and Literature (ICAEL'2012) December 14-15, 2012 Singapore result of culture contact. According to studies of doufu/tofu 豆腐 sociolinguists, frequently borrowed are brand names, place Cheongsam/Qipao 旗袍 names, greetings, sayings and slang expressions. The types of (5) About botany borrowed words tend to be related to the culture behind the litchi 荔枝 donor language, because the more culturally bound an item, ginseng 人参 the less likely the possibility of a ready synonym in the other longan 龙眼 language. (6) About measurement The Chinese borrowings in English can be traced back to jin 斤 the 17th century. With the opening of the Silk Road, words yuan 元 expressing things unique to China made their way into English Loan translation vocabulary mainly through transliteration and loan translation. Loan translation is defined by Bloomfield as a form of Garland Cannon estimated that Chinese borrowings collected borrowing from one language to another whereby the semantic in the English standard dictionaries and other books had components of a given term are literally translated into their amounted to no less than 979 by the middle of 1970s[6]. The equivalents in the borrowing language[5]. In this case, a main feature of those Chinese borrowings is their uniqueness foreign concept is borrowed and a native term used to express and irreplaceability. Unlike the French borrowings, which it. The native word has no phonological similarities to the offer a large number of synonyms to English vocabulary and foreign word. Cannon collected 49 Chinese loan translations are sometimes complained as the burden of English, Chinese in his article Chinese Borrowings in English in the 1980s[7]. borrowings are irreplaceable because of their lack of English Examples: equivalences. (1)About traditional literature 1. Ways of borrowing Four Books 四书 Fantini recognizes two levels of borrowing—“pure Five Classics 五经 borrowing”, where the word retains all its native features, Analects of Confucius 论语 and “adjusted borrowing”, where the word adapts to the (2) About politics 大跃进 structural criteria of the host language[5]. Generally speaking, Great Leap Forward 长征 Chinese borrowings in English consist of three parts in ways Long March 全国人大 of transliteration (which approximates to the idea of pure National People’s Congress (NPC) borrowing), loan translation and the combination of both (3) About food and cuisine 莲子 (which can be regarded as equal to adjusted borrowing). lotus seeds 燕窝 Transliteration bird’s nest 醉虾 Transliterated words are phonetically similar to the donor drunken shrimp language form and the borrowing language form. They are (4) About history 战国 used in the borrowing language with the closest possible Warring States 天子 sounds and the closest possible meanings to the original Son of Heaven 龙袍 words. Transliteration is the most commonly used method to dragon robes translate proper nouns especially geographical names and (5) Others 纸老虎 people’s names. It is also the easiest and the best way to paper tiger 封建迷信 bridge lexical gaps in intercultural communication. Here are feudal superstition 丢脸 some examples of Chinese borrowings in English，which are lose face 工分 basically from Putonghua and Cantonese dialect. work point (1)About history and culture Combination of transliteration and loan translation xiucai 秀才 The combined way of transliteration and load translation yamen 衙门 incorporates the linguistic elements of both languages. This kowtow 叩，磕头 kind of borrowing has greatly enriched the English (2)About geomancy and philosophy expressions. fengshui 风水 Examples: yin and yang 阴阳 teacake 茶点 (3) About recreation and sports Beijing opera 京剧 erhu 二胡 Confucianism 孔子 /儒家学说 wushu 武术 Taoism 道家学说 tai chi 太极拳 Maoist 毛泽东思想追随者 mahjong 麻将 (4) About food, drink and clothing 2. Channels of Borrowing baozi 包子 Katamba distinguishes between direct and indirect ketchup 番茄酱 borrowing[5]. Indirect borrowing is when language B receives chowmein 炒面 a loan word from language A by way of languages C, D, E, 118 International Conference on Arts, Economics and Literature (ICAEL'2012) December 14-15, 2012 Singapore etc. Direct borrowing occurs when the borrowing is According to the textual research, “fuyun”