Features of Chinese English

Abstract

<p>English, being a traditionally stressed-based language, would have some unstressed syllables reduced. However, this feature tends to be absent in Chinese English (CE). Similarly, Chen demonstrates that speakers from Beijing rarely have vowel reduction, which makes their English more syllable-based. Ao’s study of Yunnan English found that this sub-variety of CE is more syllable-based. Presently, Chinese media and literary works have provided a fertile ground for the development and innovation of CE lexis through transliterations and loan translations. Especially for journalism, “there is a routine need for the translation of contemporary Chinese vocabulary relating to the culture, economics, and politics of a rapidly-changing China”. Topicalisation of adjuncts in CE refers to the placement of modifiers such as adverbials or adverbial clauses before the verb of a sentence, especially for time adjuncts. Rhythmically, CE shows the tendency of veering towards a syllable-based variety. However, it remains contentious whether CE is a rhotic variety or not.</p>