Ecolinguistic dynamics of English loanwords in Chinese: a case study on terms for cement

The study investigates the dynamic evolution of English loanwords in Chinese, focusing specifically on terms related to cement. Existing research often provides static descriptions, lacking quantitative analysis and consideration of external environmental factors. This paper addresses these shortcomings by adopting an ecolinguistic perspective, examining the interplay between language and environment to understand the mechanisms governing loanword adaptation. The research questions are: 1) In what contexts do English loanwords in Chinese emerge? 2) Do environments influence the vitality of these loanwords? 3) What causes the endangerment of these loanwords? The study aims to provide insights into the sustainable development of vocabulary and contribute to a more dynamic understanding of loanword integration.

The literature review covers loanwords, their origins in language contact, and the various theoretical frameworks used to study their integration. It discusses different types of loanwords (cultural, intimate, dialectal, etc.) and how they adapt phonologically, morphologically, and semantically in the recipient language. The review highlights previous studies on loanwords in specific languages (e.g., French in English, Sanskrit in Southeast Asian languages) and examines various models for loanword assimilation (Haugen's model, the Matrix Language Frame model, etc.). The authors also discuss the emerging field of ecolinguistics, emphasizing its dynamic approach and its application in studying language vitality, endangerment, and evolution. Previous research on loanwords in Chinese is reviewed, noting a deficiency in dynamic studies, quantitative analysis, and consideration of external ecological factors. The ecolinguistic perspectives, particularly the recent conceptual frameworks, support the research methodology.

This study defines English loanwords in Chinese broadly, encompassing both transliterations and translations. The data are sourced from various dictionaries, atlases, and corpora (Modern Chinese Dictionary, Great Chinese Dictionary, etc.), creating diachronic corpora for temporal analysis and synchronic corpora for spatial analysis. Five corpora of different genres are also created for functional niche analysis. The key concept introduced is 'Lexical Niche', which examines temporal, spatial, and functional distributions of words. Niche breadth and niche overlap are quantified using Levins' and Pianka's formulas, respectively. Niche breadth represents the range of contexts where a loanword is used, while niche overlap indicates the extent of competition with other synonyms. Loanword vitality is assessed using these indicators and validated through a questionnaire. The study analyzes the influence of external (natural, social, cultural, psychological) and internal (phonetic, morphological, semantic, grammatical) factors on loanword evolution.

The study identified 37 loanwords for "cement" in Chinese, with five—ShuiNi (水泥), YangHui (洋灰), ShuiMenTing (水门汀), HongMaoNi (红毛泥), and ShiMinTu (士敏土)—included in the Modern Chinese Dictionary (MCD). The emergence of these terms is linked to the introduction of cement to China in the 1880s during the Westernization Movement. The vitality of these loanwords is directly correlated with their niche breadth. ShuiNi displays the highest vitality (niche breadth = 3.221), followed by YangHui (2.350). ShiMinTu, HongMaoNi, and ShuiMenTing show low vitality and are classified as extinct, critically endangered, and endangered, respectively, based on their niche breadth values across temporal, spatial, and functional dimensions. The analysis of niche overlap reveals intense competition among some loanwords, especially between YangHui and ShuiNi, which have high spatial overlap. The endangerment of loanwords is attributed to a combination of external factors (social, cultural, geographical changes) and internal factors (adaptation challenges, three-syllable words versus the preference for two-syllable words, etc.). The study also finds that age and hometown significantly correlate with the usage of loanwords.

The findings demonstrate that the ecolinguistic approach effectively reveals the dynamic evolution of loanwords. The correlation between vitality and niche breadth highlights the importance of considering the range of contexts in which a loanword is used. The competition among synonyms reveals the selective pressures influencing loanword survival. The synergistic interaction of external and internal factors contributes to the complex process of loanword adaptation and endangerment. The results underscore the importance of considering both social and linguistic factors when studying loanword evolution. The study's approach provides a more scientific and quantitative understanding of loanword ecology, advancing the field beyond qualitative analysis.

This study provides a novel ecolinguistic perspective on the evolution of English loanwords in Chinese, specifically examining terms for cement. The findings highlight the significant role of both external and internal factors in determining loanword vitality and endangerment. The introduction of a quantitative measure for niche breadth and overlap contributes significantly to the field. Future research could expand the scope to include loanwords from other languages and semantic fields, potentially examining the reciprocal effects of loanwords on the environment. The presented lexical ecocontinuum offers a dynamic classification tool that can be applied to other areas of language evolution studies.

The study focuses narrowly on cement-related terms, limiting the generalizability of its findings. The sample size, while extensive for this specific domain, might not fully represent the broader patterns of loanword integration in Chinese. The study primarily focuses on the impact of environment on loanword evolution, while a future study can explore the influence of loanwords on the evolving linguistic environment.