According to a report issued by the Global Language Monitor, Chinglish has contributed around 5-20% to the English vocabulary and they are now the main sources of new English words.
The Global Language Monitor (GLM) recently released a report saying China English has become creative for new English words. English, as a global language, has been affected by the rise of china, particularly with its rise in international status. Over 1,000 words of Chinese origin can now be found in the Oxford English Dictionary and, since the mid-1990s, the adoption of Chinese words and phrases into English seems to be on the rise.
Indeed, it is not a recent phenomenon for Chinese phrases to literally translate into English. In the latter half of the 20th century, there are English expressions like “bare-foot doctor”, “little red book”, “red guards” are all associated with the “cultural revolution” (1966-1976), while “paper tiger” “great leap forward” are associated with specific periods. During those days, these words conjured up a negative image of China in the eyes of the West.
However, the status of China English has been enhanced in recent decades due to the rising status of China in international politics. A professor from the University of Barcelona commented that China is playing a more important role on international affairs. Therefore, western media has been paying closer attention to what is going on inside China. For example, the 2008 Beijing Olympics brought another loud and clear Chinese expression to the world’s attention: the Chinese cheer Jiayou! A rising China is undoubtedly catching more interest and sometimes concern.
China English allows valuable elements of Chinese traditional culture to be better preserved, developed and promoted. For example, words like fengshui and taichi have successfully brought the ancient Chinese art and life philosophy under spotlight on the global stage, drawing immense attention and ongoing fascination from the whole world. With Chinese culture and traditions growing more and more popular in the world, Chinese English speakers will too be gaining the power of discourse in intercultural communication, because they are no longer passive culture receivers but culture disseminators. This, in return, may reinforce their sense of pride in their native cultural identity and serve as a strong incentive for them to further explore and protect Chinese cultural legacies.
Moreover, the rise of China English and the adoption of Chinese cultural ideas will make the world more civilized. Chinese written civilization is more than 4,000 years old, and its culture is so rich that it is admired by people all over the world. The core of Confucianism is ‘benevolence’ [ren]. This concept encourages Chinese rulers to adopt benevolent governance [wangdao] rather than hegemonic governance [badao]. In terms of foreign relations, Chinese strategists aspire to ‘associate with benevolent gentlemen and befriend good neighbors’ [qinren shanlin]. In the last two centuries, Western countries took the leading role in world affairs. The strength and advance of Western countries created a political culture that emphasized power rather than morality, which has had a worldwide impact. As China rises, it will make its political culture popular throughout the world. The Chinese concept of ‘benevolence’ will influence international norms and make international society more civilized.
The Global Language Monitor (GLM) recently released a report saying China English has become creative for new English words. English, as a global language, has been affected by the rise of china, particularly with its rise in international status. Over 1,000 words of Chinese origin can now be found in the Oxford English Dictionary and, since the mid-1990s, the adoption of Chinese words and phrases into English seems to be on the rise.
Indeed, it is not a recent phenomenon for Chinese phrases to literally translate into English. In the latter half of the 20th century, there are English expressions like “bare-foot doctor”, “little red book”, “red guards” are all associated with the “cultural revolution” (1966-1976), while “paper tiger” “great leap forward” are associated with specific periods. During those days, these words conjured up a negative image of China in the eyes of the West.
However, the status of China English has been enhanced in recent decades due to the rising status of China in international politics. A professor from the University of Barcelona commented that China is playing a more important role on international affairs. Therefore, western media has been paying closer attention to what is going on inside China. For example, the 2008 Beijing Olympics brought another loud and clear Chinese expression to the world’s attention: the Chinese cheer Jiayou! A rising China is undoubtedly catching more interest and sometimes concern.
China English allows valuable elements of Chinese traditional culture to be better preserved, developed and promoted. For example, words like fengshui and taichi have successfully brought the ancient Chinese art and life philosophy under spotlight on the global stage, drawing immense attention and ongoing fascination from the whole world. With Chinese culture and traditions growing more and more popular in the world, Chinese English speakers will too be gaining the power of discourse in intercultural communication, because they are no longer passive culture receivers but culture disseminators. This, in return, may reinforce their sense of pride in their native cultural identity and serve as a strong incentive for them to further explore and protect Chinese cultural legacies.
Moreover, the rise of China English and the adoption of Chinese cultural ideas will make the world more civilized. Chinese written civilization is more than 4,000 years old, and its culture is so rich that it is admired by people all over the world. The core of Confucianism is ‘benevolence’ [ren]. This concept encourages Chinese rulers to adopt benevolent governance [wangdao] rather than hegemonic governance [badao]. In terms of foreign relations, Chinese strategists aspire to ‘associate with benevolent gentlemen and befriend good neighbors’ [qinren shanlin]. In the last two centuries, Western countries took the leading role in world affairs. The strength and advance of Western countries created a political culture that emphasized power rather than morality, which has had a worldwide impact. As China rises, it will make its political culture popular throughout the world. The Chinese concept of ‘benevolence’ will influence international norms and make international society more civilized.
