Word formation of Chinese English words: Evidence from the Chinese English Dictionary

Abstract

AbstractThis study aims to cast light on the nature and features of word formation in the lexis of Chinese English and provide a synchronic formational analysis of Chinese English neologisms by adopting a sequential data‐driven approach with a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. The study has 1) constructed a hierarchical and quantificational four‐level structure for Chinese English word formation through meticulous coding, categorization, and calculation of 3522 headwords collected in the Chinese English Dictionary; and 2) revealed departures of the present taxonomy with extant models of indigenized varieties in both qualitative (coherence, inclusiveness, refinedness, adaptability) and quantitative measures (the changing status of formation processes, source languages, and transliteration systems). The study sheds significant insights into the motivation of Chinese English words, the status of the Chinese English variety, the sociolinguistic conditions of the variety, and word formation in the Expanding Circle where a dictionary of the variety is available.