Chinese Borrowings in English, Chinese Cultural Identity and Economic Development

Abstract

Since the 20th century, scholars abroad have achieved a lot on the studies of borrowings in English. However, studies on Chinese borrowings in English are hardly involved. Scholars at home almost researched on the English borrowings in Chinese. In the light of this phenomenon, an all-round analysis on the development of Chinese borrowings in English was undertaken. Chinese borrowings were first enrolled to English in the beginning of 17th century. However, from the beginning of 17th century to the beginning of 19th century, the policy of isolation with the outside world is advocated by Qing Dynasty. The communication between China and the outside world in politics, culture and economy is rare. There are just small numbers of trades involved in teas, food, textiles and so on in Hong of some coastal cities, such as Guangzhou. So the Chinese borrowings in English in this period are limited to food, teas and textiles. From the beginning of 19th century to the beginning of 20th century, the policy of isolation with the outside world has been implemented all the time by the Qing Dynasty. Consequently, there has hardly changed in the development of Chinese borrowings in English. Since the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, Marxism and Maoism has been dominant in the whole New China as the spiritual profiles from the beginning of 20th century to the eve of Opening-up. Under the background of Red Revolution, the Chinese borrowings in English, to some extents, have increasingly developed. However, Chinese borrowings in English has been increasingly growing, especially after Opening-up, which is involved in wide fields with the improving communication in economy, politics and culture between China and the outside world. To some degrees, the increasingly strengthening influence of China on the world was reflected and the cultural soft power of China was improved. Meanwhile, some weaknesses have been pointed, which could strengthen the construction of spiritual civilization, create healthy environment for our Chinese culture introduced into world and improve the soft power of China on earth.