Contrast between China English and Chinese English

【Abstract】 With the globalization of English，the discussion about China English and Chinese English attracts many scholars’ interest and attention.The concept of China English and Chinese English usually makes people confused，so the article will make some tentative contrasts in terms of definition、attributes and causes of the two terms and make people have a clear comprehension of China English and Chinese English.

【Key Words】 China English；Chinese English；Contrast Study；Cause

With China’s entry into WTO and successful Olympics-holding，the English popularization is paid much attention to in China.In our daily life，China English and Chinese English are usually heard.Superficially，the two terms are similar，in effect，they are very different.

1.Definitions of China English and Chinese English

Definition of China English

As early as in 1980，Ge Chuangui put forward the concept “China English” for the first time.Subsequently，domestic scholars expressed their ideas about the term from different perspectives.In 1991，Prof.Wang Rongpei proposed that “China English is the ‘Standard-English-oriented’ language used by Chinese people with China characteristics”.In 1993，Li Wenzhong supposed that “China English is normative-English-centered，which can be used to express particular things in the fields of Chinese cultures；it is not disturbed﹠effected by mother tongue and enters English communications by means of transliteration，translation and semantic regeneration with the unique vocabulary，sentence structure and passages of China attributes”.In 1999，Jia Guanjei and Xiang Pengyou gave some corrections and complements abut the definition of Wang Rongpei’s “China English”.They defined “China English as an English variety with China’s attributes used by Chinese，which is based on Standard English and benefits the diffusion of Chinese culture”.At the moment，though there are some controversies about “China English” in linguistics，people reach an agreement at the three levels as：standard-English-centered；with China’s characteristics under the circumstances of Chinese culture and society；benefit the spread of Chinese culture，enrich English and world’s culture.

Definition of Chinese English﹠Chinglish

Chinese English is a kind of abnormal English used by English learners and users in China，which is disturbed and affected by mother tongue，copies Chinese grammatical rules and expressive habits，and violates English grammars and expressive habits in communication.It is an Interlingua which is impossible to avoid in English acquisition by Chinese people.Interlingua is a language system created by a person learning a second language，which has both mother tongue’s systemic attributes and target language’s systemic characteristics.Chinese English，as an Interlingua，has its own attributes：

Systematic.Chinese English embodies the language competence of an English learner at one stage of learning.During the process，some language errors occur again and again because of not having a good command of target language，so under the circumstance，a comparatively stable language system comes into being.

Transitional.Corder supposes that language learning is a process in which the hypothesis is established and then is violated，corrected and completed again.During the process，interlanguage is approaching target language closer and closer.

Absorbed.The input of new language information causes the effect to the primary language system，and then language learners make appropriate adjustments about Chinese English according to the related linguistic knowledge.

Predictable.Based on the causes of Chinese English，the errors occurred in Chinese English tend to be regular and predictable.

2.Different Attributes of China English and Chinese English

The Characteristics of China English

China English’s biggest attribute is its “China Flavor”.China Flavor refers to the unique things in Chinese culture，which is reflected in different aspects of language.

Phonetics

Every language has its unique phonetic system and pronunciation rules.Chinese is a tone language which has four tones altogether，while English hasn’t the differences of tone，the meaning of the word depends on its stress and intonation.Chinese usually lacks the changes of intonation，while the intonation of English is paid much attention to.

Vocabulary

Every people and every area have its unique things to express，so a large number of special words are created.China English has a lot of words with “China Flavor”，some of which are implied into standard dictionaries and reference books.For example，“cultural revolution”，“four modernization”，”laid-off workers”，“Spring Festival”，“open-door policy”，“iron rice bowl” and so on.

Grammar

Bonliger believes that grammar is the most conservative part in language and its change is the least.China English tends to placing modifiers in the front of the sentence，which lead to lots of simple sentences in passages，while in English there are so many complicated sentences

The Characteristics of Chinese English

Phonetics

Phonetically，China English is formed by the differences of Chinese and English，which bears on group characteristics.Sometimes it is very difficult even for advanced learners to avoid “china voice” when they speak English.While Chinese English usually reflect individual attributes，which is not standard pronunciation，even cause language barrier in communication.

Vocabulary

On the contrary to China English，Chinese English embodies not（上接第369頁）

china’s characteristics but vocabulary misuse.For instance，in English we can speak “l(fā)earn English”，but we can’t speak “l(fā)earn knowledge”，only to say” gain knowledge”.And we can say” the key to the answer” rather than “the key of the answer”.In Standard English，people usually replace “study room” with “study”.

Grammar

Grammatically，Chinese English reflect apparent errors in normative English.For example，the sentence” Now the Chinese government is working hard to improve taxation”，is wrong sentence，here the word”now” should be omitted.Another sentence like”I think I won’t trouble you again” is obviously a Chinese English，actually it should be expressed” I don’t think I will trouble you”.

Conclusion

According to the contrast above，we find that China English and Chinese English are the objective existence.As a student of linguistics，we must have a good comprehension of the two concepts.China English is more stable while Chinese English is less stable.China English can help china’s communication with the world，while Chinese English usually hinders our communication and destroys china’s image.Consequently，we try our best to make full use of China English and avoid Chinese English in use.

Reference：

[1]Li Wenzhong.China English and Chinese English[J].Foreign Language Teaching and Research，1993，（4）

[2]Wan Pengjie.The Contrast Between China English and Chinese English[J].Shanghai Translation，2005，（2）

[3]Zheng Jing.The Contrastive Analysis Betwwen China English and Chinese English[J].Journal of Fujian Normal University，2006，（6）

[4]Xia Xinrong.On the Contrast Between China English and Chinese English[J].Journal of Xihua University，2007，（10）