A comparison study between Chinese

English and Malaysian English

Outline
Introduction
Literature Review
Aim & Limitation
Findings & Discussion
Conclusion
References

Introduction
Language and Society mutually influence each other in nature.
New words are coined to convey new meanings to suit the need
of having more flexible expressions in different contexts/domains
through social agreement.
To discuss the linguistic differences in Chinese English and
Malaysian English, focusing on the social factors which affect the
varieties selected.
In China, English is considered as a foreign language (EFL) while
in Malaysia; it is the second language (ESL). The proficiency level is
totally different.
Both variety is deeply influenced by the local cultures, somehow
reflects the social background of that particular society as well.

Literature Review
Sociolinguistic is a branch of linguistic study of language in relation to
society and its sources can be dated back to the 1950s and 1960s.
Trudgill (1980) in his research discusses ethnicity in variation and
change in language at some length and sound changes in progress can be
observed, but only by studying language in its social contexts.
Bloomfield (1993), Chambers and Trudgill (1980) and Hucket (1985)
then produce dialectology, particularly focusing on its branches, which is
geographical dialect and the most clear-cut variety differences based on
geography are known as regional dialects within any larger variety.

Controversies related to its sub-standard varieties such as Singlish

(Singapore), Manglish (Malaysia), Chinglish (China), and etc.

The linguists common ground is since it is impossible for non-native

speakers (Asians) to have British or American English standard, English
can be a common language on a multinational basis only when its
cultural diversity is accepted.
The issue of diversity management is imperative to be taken into
account through intercultural awareness, i.e. by examining the language
of metaphors, especially in Asian contexts.
Thus, a common language has to be a multicultural language. (Honna
2000, 2003)
Non-native speakers may speak like native ones syntactically but not
phonologically (in terms of pronunciation, rhythm, stress, and
intonation).

Aims & Limitation

To discover the differences between Chinese English and Malaysian
English on the subject of phonology, morphology and pragmatic
To understand differences on how both non-native speakers of the
language use English.
To identify what are the variables affecting it (such as age, gender
and social status).
Limitation
The comparison will focus on Chinglish and Manglish varieties in
general due to the fact that comparing regional dialect in both
countries specifically would be rather impossible because there are
more than over 50 dialects in China alone.

Findings and Discussions

-Linguistic features
Aspects

Chinglish

Manglish

Faulty pronunciation of
certain words

Substituting unfamiliar
sounds using different
sounds:
ship/sheep, it/eat,
and full/fool

Frequently makes
homophones of English
tense and lax vowels:
Leave/live, caught/cot
and pull/pool

Confusion of Vowels

/i:/ from /I/ = [mit] for [mi:t] /i:/ and /i/ = bead/bit
/e/ and / / = men-man-mine
/a/, /a:/ and // = hut-heart

Explanation
(Social Factors, First
Language Interference)

Some English phonemes do

not exist in Chinese
Chinese itself is a tone
language, emphasizing on
the use of pitch instead

Speakers are most

probably affected by their
dialectal mother tongue
(Malay, Hokkien, Hakka)

Findings and Discussions

-Linguistic features
Vocabulary
SubVariety

Cases

Chinglish

Misuse words without

realizing its connotations
Overgeneralization of
English affixation.
Incorrect collocation

Manglish

Defining words differently

Photostat refers to
Copying Machine
Coinage of New Words
Handphone- Mobile
Phone
SMS-ing- Short
Message Service becomes
a verb

Findings and Discussions

-Linguistic features
Grammar
SubVariety
Cases

Chinglish
Tendency of answering
complete sentence.

Manglish
Use of the particle lah
Use of tag question is it

Use of pronounces

Translate
Tag question

Use of or not, can, and

got

Findings and Discussions

-Social factors
Gender
Women

Men

Tend to use more standard form with

high voice.
Speak more politeness devices.

Speak more vernacular form with

deeper voices.
Straight to points and even parts of
them with gestures.

Age
Young People
Like to coin new words from social
networking or media.
Use of slang
Speak in certain accent and
incomplete sentences.

Old People
Use more grammatically correct
sentences.
Use of idioms and poetic speech.

Conclusion
Normally, a person would speak a particular kind of English
depending, for instances, upon which region of the country he/she
comes from and which social status or backgrounds that they are
most strongly affiliated with.

The purpose of this study is to distinguish the differences of the

different aspects found in both varieties and to understand why these
changes happen and how it took place.
These will then rationally shows distinction on the dimension of
sociolinguistic variation, which are like age, gender, social status,
pronunciation, morphology and grammar and also the relationships of
these variations with the language itself.

References

Thank you!