Linguistic Characteristics of China English and Its effect on EnglishTeaching

延宏++胡娜++郭妮

【Abstract】China English is a standard variant of English and has Chinese characteristics， when used appropriately， it can play a unique role in expressing things with Chinese characteristics. We should internalize the variant theory of China English in order to guide the teaching of English.

【Key words】China English； linguistic characteristics； English teaching

China English is an English variety that has Normative English as its core. It is influenced by Chinese thinking way and Chinese social culture. It is characterized by the level of vocabulary， syntax and discourse.

1.Linguistic characteristics of China English

Chinese interference in China English can be almost reflected on the language expression of the content of all things. Saussure pointed out that the spirit of a nation or a nation group will continuously lead to certain roads. It is impossible for Chinese people to be completely free of Chinese thinking in speaking or writing English. In terms of pure linguistics， the kind of interference is reflected in the level of vocabulary， syntax and discourse.

1.1 Lexical characteristics of China English

Lexical features of China English are mainly reflected in Chinese loanwords in English. According to Garland Cannon， the number of Chinese loanwords entered into English has reached 1，200. In recent years， many Chinese-specific words have entered into English. About 30，000 loanwords are compiled in A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary of Chinese Proper Names and Terms by Zhang Zhenjiu and Yuan Xianjun. The main features of Chinese loanwords entering into English mainly via transliteration and loan-translation are its uniqueness and irreplaceability. As a brand new meaning， they enter into English with characteristics of low fallout rate and accurate expression.

1.2 Syntactic characteristics of China English

English sentences are well knitted while Chinese ones are terse and lucid. This feature of Chinese sentence structure reflects mostly in China English sentence patterns， forming lots of unique short sentences. Another obvious feature of China English sentences is reflected in some English sentences which are influenced by Chinese thinking.

1.3 Text and discourse characteristics of China English

Teng Chunhong makes a research on the English essays written by Chinese students studying in Kansas University of USA， pointing out that writing with the help of ones mother tongue is an objective reality in spite of students foreign language proficiency. Yang Yuchen and Wen Zhaorong analyze English writings by the second-grade students at the Foreign Language Department of Northeast Normal University and draws the conclusion that Chinese students have their own peculiar style in English writing.

2.The effect of the characteristics of China English on English teaching

In China， teachers always ask their students not to think in Chinese but in English when speaking or writing in English. Without Chinese interference， there would be no China English. Chinese interference may be less if ones English is improved， but Chinese effects cannot be completely shrugged off on any account. Now that we cannot get rid of the interference of Chinese culture and Chinese thinking， and that China English is an objective reality and a normative English variety， we should internalize the variant theory of China English and language features to guide the teaching of English， and meantime bodily encourage students to use China English to correct the irregularities in the use of China English.

Reference：

[1]Saussure F.de.Course in General Linguistics[M].New York：McCraw- Hill，1966.323.

[2]Gonzalez，A.The Role of English and its Maintenance in the philipines （ed.）.Manila：Solidaridad，1988.24- 29.

[3]Zhang Zhenjiu&Yuan Xijun，A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary of Chinese Proper Names and Terms[M].Beijing：Beijing University Press，1994.

[4]Teng Chunhong，English Grammar and Writing—Research on English Skills of Chinese Students Studying in Kansas University of USA[J].Foreign Language Teaching and Research，1993，（4）.

[5]Yang Yuchen&Wen Zhaorong，Analysis of Sentence Types in Chinese Students English Compositions[J].Modern Foreign Language，1994，（1）.

[6]Xie Zhijun，Chinese English：Inference Variant in Cross-cultural Language Communication[J].Modern Foreign Language，1995，（4）.

*本研究获陕西省教育厅人文社科专项立项资助（2013JK0312）。