Researching Chinese English: the State of the Art


Book Description

This volume offers a timely collection of original research papers on the various features and issues surrounding Chinese English, one of the varieties in World Englishes with a large and increasing number of learners and users. The five sections entitled ‘Researching Chinese English Pronunciation’, ‘Researching Chinese English Lexis, Grammar and Pragmatics’, ‘Researching Perceptions, Attitudes and Reactions towards Chinese English’, ‘Researching Cultural Conceptualizations and Identities in Chinese English’, and ‘Chinese Scholarship on Chinese English’, bring together three generations of Chinese and overseas researchers, both established and emerging, who offer lively dialogues on the current research, development and future of Chinese English. The introductory chapter by the editors on the state-of-the-art of researching Chinese English, and a concluding chapter by a leading researcher in World Englishes on the future directions for researching Chinese English make this an essential title for those who wish to gain insights on Chinese English.




Translation Studies in China


Book Description

This book features the latest research on translation by a dozen leading scholars of translation studies in China. The themes discussed are diverse, and include: translation policy, literary translation, medical translation, corpus translation studies, teaching translation, translation technologies, media translation, interpreting studies and so on. The contributors are all respected experts on their respective topics. The book reflects the state-of-the-art of translation studies in China, and offers a unique window on the latest thoughts on translation there.




Chinese English


Book Description

This book offers a distinct exploration of Chinese English – which has the largest rising population of speakers in the World Englishes (WE) family. Xu focuses on the fundamental issues of "names" and "norms" that are closely related to Chinese English and the "narratives" of the speakers of Chinese English. In addition to current approaches to WE research, this book proposes a novel theoretical and analytical framework based on classical Chinese and Western philosophies. The volume has an empirical basis, drawing upon interview and questionnaire survey data from proficient speakers of Chinese English. It is also based on an extensive review of the relevant literature on both WE and Chinese English, and it draws upon the author’s research experience of over two decades on the subject. This is the third research book on Chinese English that the author has contributed to WE literature and it will be a valuable read for students and scholars alike.




China English in World Englishes


Book Description

This book fills the gap in World Englishes studies in terms of the pedagogic implication of China English and its use in the Chinese workplace. Using three triangulated methods, namely, questionnaire survey, matched-guise technique, and focused interview, the book adopts an innovative research methodology that combines quantitative and qualitative data from 3,493 participants. Overall, the participants still believe that the standardized Englishes are desirable models of English in China and that China English should be well codified and promoted before being adopted as the pedagogic model. In addition, the book proposes that the curriculum design of university English should include an introduction to the well-defined characteristics of China English and world Englishes. Last but not least, the book reveals that English is being used more widely and frequently in the professional world than before and has become increasingly important in China.




Emerging Englishes


Book Description

This book encourages further conversation on the expanding circle in World Englishes, offering a detailed look at ‘China English’ through the academic writing of Chinese students at a British university. The volume seeks to blur the simplistic binary of ‘Chinglish’, a broad term often understood to encompass grammatical or lexical errors or seemingly ‘unnatural’ expressions, and ‘China English’, which the authors articulate here as its own variety, as evidenced in language use marked by predictability. The research framework begins with analysing student essays in one programme at the University of Manchester, predominantly made up of Chinese students. In highlighting recurring features and supported by online surveys of the students, the authors demonstrate how ‘China English’ displays the systematicity in grammar and lexis observed in varieties of English. In focusing on academic writing, a genre which bears prominence in assessment, the book raises key questions about implications for teaching, what is considered appropriate language, and whether, rather than seeking to replace ‘Standard English’, the notion of what is ‘standard’ might be broadened to encompass other varieties. The book further promotes implications beyond pedagogies, to include learning more broadly, marking, curriculum/policy, training, and identity negotiation. This book will be of interest to students and scholars in language and education, World Englishes, sociolinguistics, and applied linguistics.




English in East and South Asia


Book Description

This book provides a first systematic and comprehensive account of English in East and South Asia (EESA) based on current research by scholars in the field. It has several unique features. Firstly, it provides a rigorous theoretical overview that is necessary for the understanding of EESA in relation to the burgeoning works on World Englishes as a discipline. Secondly, in the section on linguistic features, a systematic template was made available to the contributors so that linguistic coverage of the variety/varieties is similar. Thirdly, the vibrancy of the sociolinguistic and pragmatic realities that govern actual English in use in a wide variety of domains such as social media, the Internet and popular culture/music are discussed. Finally, this volume includes an extensive bibliography of works on EESA, thus providing a useful and valuable resource for language researchers, linguists, classroom educators, policymakers and anyone interested in the topic of EESA or World Englishes. This volume hopes to advance understanding of the spread and development of the different sub-varieties reflecting both the political developments and cultural norms in the region.




Foreign Language Learning Anxiety in China


Book Description

Already the focus of much interest for 50 years, the study of foreign language learning anxiety (FLLA) still remains a popular research topic among scholars in Western countries. FLLA is believed to be an important cause of students’ “dumb English”. Considering the paucity of monographs on FLLA in China, this book represents an important step towards filling this gap. The author uses his PhD dissertation as a foundation for reviewing and discussing previous literature, as well as the current status of and major issues concerning FLLA worldwide. The book explores FLLA in China by using innovative triangulated research methodology, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods, namely surveys, focused interviews, and classroom observations. It also highlights the significance and implications of the research results and predicts the future of global FLLA research with a particular focus on China. Readers will discover the latest developments and issues concerning FLLA, causes of FLLA, and verified, effective strategies for alleviating such anxiety.




The Handbook of Asian Englishes


Book Description

The first volume of its kind, focusing on the sociolinguistic and socio-political issues surrounding Asian Englishes The Handbook of Asian Englishes provides wide-ranging coverage of the historical and cultural context, contemporary dynamics, and linguistic features of English in use throughout the Asian region. This first-of-its-kind volume offers a wide-ranging exploration of the English language throughout nations in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Contributions by a team of internationally-recognized linguists and scholars of Asian Englishes and Asian languages survey existing works and review new and emerging areas of research in the field. Edited by internationally renowned scholars in the field and structured in four parts, this Handbook explores the status and functions of English in the educational institutions, legal systems, media, popular cultures, and religions of diverse Asian societies. In addition to examining nation-specific topics, this comprehensive volume presents articles exploring pan-Asian issues such as English in Asian schools and universities, English and language policies in the Asian region, and the statistics of English across Asia. Up-to-date research addresses the impact of English as an Asian lingua franca, globalization and Asian Englishes, the dynamics of multilingualism, and more. Examines linguistic history, contemporary linguistic issues, and English in the Outer and Expanding Circles of Asia Focuses on the rapidly-growing complexities of English throughout Asia Includes reviews of the new frontiers of research in Asian Englishes, including the impact of globalization and popular culture Presents an innovative survey of Asian Englishes in one comprehensive volume Serving as an important contribution to fields such as contact linguistics, World Englishes, sociolinguistics, and Asian language studies, The Handbook of Asian Englishes is an invaluable reference resource for undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and instructors across these areas.







Re-positioning Accent Attitude in the Global Englishes Paradigm


Book Description

This book revisits the issue of China English as a developing variety of English and scrutinises students’ and teachers’ attitudes towards their own and other English accents from the critical phenomenological perspective of Global Englishes (GE) in the Chinese context. The research contributes to the field of GE by proposing a model of pronunciation teaching called ToPIC (Teaching of Pronunciation for Intercultural Communication) informed by interculturally responsive language pedagogy. Combining theory and empirical data, the book presents ground-breaking research on accent attitudes in the Chinese context within the GE paradigm and raises issues and concerns regarding teaching English, particularly speaking and pronunciation, from the GE perspective. Unpacking attitudes towards English accents from a critical perspective, this book will both show policy makers the need to consider the impacts of GE and help practitioners and language learners re-evaluate the goals and needs of English learning. The ToPIC approach also has significance for curriculum reform as it readdresses various issues in language policy and practice. The ToPIC approach is recommended for those interested in teaching and learning English in the expanding circle context and those seeking to learn more about learning and using English across the world.