Abstract

Chinese loanwords in English reflect the interests of western world in Chinese culture and have profound impact on English. It also reveals it’s not only a pure linguistic phenomenon, but also a social and cultural phenomenon. Studying the phenomena can help us not only deepen cultural communication, but also learn more about the linguistic and social meaning of the phenomena.

    In the process of study, emphasizing and analyzing loanwords in English is not only good for English learners to master English vocabulary better and faster, but also increase Chinese enthusiasm in learning English. The paper analyses the phenomenon of Chinese loanwords in English from several aspects, which are reasons for their appearance, classification, ways of borrowing, usage of these words, and the attitude of western people towards Chinese loanwords in English.

Key words: cultural communication, loanwords, lexical gap

CONTENTS

中文摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction  1

2. Reasons for appearance of Chinese loanwords in English .2 

2.1 Culture contact .2

  2.2 Lexical gaps ..2

2.3 Prestige.3 

2.4 Media transmission..4 

3. Classification Chinese loanwords in English4

  3.2 Diet . 4

  3.3 Clothes..4

3.4 Special products and articles5         

  3.5 Social customs..5

  3.6 With characteristic of the times5

  3.7 Idiom..5

4. Sources of Chinese loanwords in English.6

4.1 Borrowed from Mandarin.6

4.2 Borrowed from Chinese dialects.6

5. The way of borrowing of Chinese loanwords in English7

5.1 Transliteration7

5.2 Meaning borrowing method7

  5.3 Transliteration and English affixes.8

6. Usage of Chinese loanwords in English8

  6.1 Change of meaning8

  6.2 Trend.9

7. Attitude towards Chinese loanwords in English 10

8. Conclusion  10

Works Cited  12