Editor's Note: This article translated from the Chinese media discusses the phenomenon of mixing in English words when speaking Chinese, or jiazati. A number of Chinese who work in bilingual environments have adapted this way of speaking. The author of the piece is concerned that mixing in English words, especially in formal environments, will undermine the “purity,” of the Chinese language, but concedes that mixing languages is a natural and normal occurrence. For a country that spends so much time and effort learning English, it is surprising that the idea of jiazati has been met with such backlash.
It happens all the time- in China, when Chinese people write or speak they often mix Chinese with a foreign language, mainly English. The term jiazati (夹杂体), translated as tangled or mixed systems or styles, is widely discussed on Baidu and other Chinese online forums. Chinese media has recently reported on jiazati, triggering another round of online Netizen debate.
The following note was circulated on the Chinese internet as an example of jiazati: “这个project的schedule有些问题, cost偏高。目前我们没法confirm手上的resource能完全take得了 (There are some issues with the project's schedule, the cost is too high. At present we cannot confirm that we have the full resources in hand).” Netizens commented that there were six English words used in just two sentences and said that whoever wrote it clearly, “could not speak properly.” The note was from an actual company, it was not created by Netizens.
Recent graduate Xiao Zhang said that he had recently participated in a number of interviews in which a mix of English and Chinese was used. “Although many of the interviewers were Chinese, they always threw a few English words in. I remember one of the interviewers asked me, '遇到tough question应该怎样handle? (How do you handle tough questions?)'” Xiao Zhang did not understand why the interviewer mixed in English words when he could have just asked the question directly in Chinese.
Language is a tool for communication and media, but it is also an important part of national culture. Some feel that mixing in English words when speaking Chinese undermines the “purity” of the Chinese language.
A Natural Occurrence
To Mr. You, who has worked in a foreign office for three years, the use of Chinese mixed with English is normal. You is a Chinese native, but often emails his foreign colleagues in English. He said that over time, this has changed the way he speaks. You said when he cannot think of a word in Chinese, his brain automatically jumps to the word in English.
Mixing Chinese and English has become an implicit in Chinese corporate culture. “If you do not speak a little English, it gives the impression that you are not professional.”
The term for mixing two languages in linguistics is known as “code-mixing,” or “code-switching.” This happens between Chinese and foreign languages and between other foreign languages as well. Scholars believe that it is the natural and normal product of a bilingual or multilingual environment.
Different Forms of Jiazati
Different Chinese people will use different versions of mixed Chinese and English according to their profession and background. Netizen Huang Jiayu said that because he studied biology, he uses a number of English words and abbreviations in his field for efficiency reasons, like the terms “DNA” and “PCR (polymerase chain reaction).”
Beijing Normal University professor Zhang Heyou said that because many have international contacts that use different languages, mixing foreign words in every day Chinese language is understandable. There are a number of online slang words that mix Chinese and English such as “你out了”which means “backwards,” or “out of date.” Changes in every day languages reflects the development and internationalization of Chinese society.
However, in some occasions, Chinese Netizens say that mixing English words with Chinese comes off as artificial. Xiao Cai said that her colleagues are all Chinese but they often mix in English words when speaking, saying things like, “把这个contacts再update一下 (put in the contacts, then update it).” Xiao Cai feels like this kind of language mixing is completely unnecessary.
Maintaining Language Purity
Xiao Zhang said that speaking in mixed Chinese and English is harmless, but Chinese should take caution to preserve the Chinese written language as it is. Xiao Zhang and his friends believe that the purity of the standardized Chinese written language should be maintained, and that Chinese should not arbitrarily mix in English words when writing. Especially in primary and secondary schools, pure written Chinese must be preserved.
Sichuan Normal University professor Miao Xiaowu said that Chinese should insist on pure forms of spoken Chinese, with no foreign words, during formal occasions. Miao said that those who mix languages during formal occasions must be corrected, otherwise it will harm Chinese traditions and affect the cultural heritage of the Chinese language.
Miao added that many people have an ideological misunderstanding when it comes to mixing in English words when speaking Chinese. People believe that mixing languages makes them look more stylish and like they have good taste. However, Miao said that this idea is superficial, and makes it seems like they have no confidence in their own culture.
In terms of jiazati, we have to both let it slide, and not take its popularity lightly. On some occasions, mixing English with Chinese is innocuous, but sometimes we must emphasize the use of standard Chinese on its own. More importantly, we must promote love of society and national pride. We must cultivate native language awareness and good language habits for children from early childhood on. Every native Chinese speaker, especially those in education, journalism, and publishing should use language responsibly.
Source: QQ News
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Keywords: China English jiazati Chinese English language mix
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Es ridículo y absolutamente innecesario. Especialmente cuando pronuncian la palabra en inglés despacio y elevando la voz, intentando poner acento de Los Angeles para que se vea que la han estudiado. Esto para mí no sólo representa una falta de orgullo por tu entorno y un desprecio por la propia cultura, sino también una falta total de confianza y autoestima por uno mismo y por lo que es. En fin, por mi parte ya hace tiempo que dejé aquí en China de tratar con esa clase de indivíduos acomplejados.
May 24, 2015 14:24 Report Abuse
Beijing University professors agree that the PURITY of the Chinese written language must be maintained... A written language which was overhauled by Chairman Mao 60 years ago, resulting in the revision of almost all Chinese characters. --- So why aren't they lamenting Mao's bastardisation of the Chinese written language, or acknowledging the Cantonese people's superior linguistic purity? Oh right. Purity here means disliking anything foreign. See fascism for a similar interpretation. --- As we can generally expect from the Chinese internet - Pure nationalistic BS.
May 19, 2015 12:56 Report Abuse
eChinacities staff: My comment was deleted, so I posted it again for your appreciation. Please advise which aspect of my writing you find objectionable. If it is the factual accuracy you object to, I have written an alternate version: "The Chinese language has existed unchanged since the dawn of time, when all that existed in the primordial darkness was the great nation of CHINA. As foreign nations one by one emerged from the gloom and spread their corrupting influence across the globe…” Is that sounding better?
May 19, 2015 13:11 Report Abuse
Welcome back Samsara. I've not seen you comment in a while. Thought you may have been banned from posting, as I have been in the past (usually just for speaking the truth). Echinacities has gone down the squatter. Forums like this used to encourage healthy debate, yet every time I express my opinion my comments are also deleted. Must have something to do with President Xi Ping Pong, and his anti-foreign ideals.
May 19, 2015 15:58 Report Abuse
Actually characters simplification process started much earlier and came to it's top at the end of the 19th, beginning of the 20th century (also connected with 'dropping' of classical Chinese). The latest reforms (1956 and 1964 - after sorting the mess with 1977 reform in 1986) touche 2,000 characters (educated Chinese commonly uses about 8,000 - to put it into perspective a foreigner knowing 'just' 2,000 characters is basically illiterate - cannot read newspapers, books etc.). But I guess the article is about something else. It's about mixing the languages when talking/writing. I think it can be divided into two groups - one is when the person more or less exists in bilingual environment, expects knowledge of both languages among all discussion participants and uses the words as per convenience (this is for instance the case in Singapore - majority of the Singaporeans are mixing foreign words into whatever language they use). The other group is for showing up. But I assume this is just minority of cases.
May 20, 2015 09:59 Report Abuse
Chinese are fixated on trying to have perfect English with no mistakes. What they don't understand, however, is that most adult native English speakers can't even read, write or speak decent English.
May 19, 2015 12:56 Report Abuse
i grew up English/Dutch bilingual. I always got shivers of disgust when Dutch people used English buzzwords in a sentence to appear hip or knowledgeable. It often came across like they just learned the word and just barely knew how to pronounce and use it. It wasn't about language purity; just my aversion to wannabes. China seems to want to keep its script "pure". Those 6000 silly little pictures that take years of child abuse to become half-competent at. I believe the character writing system may be the cause of a lot of disfunctionality, poor communication an learning problems. I say: Mix in those written English words, get more exposure to a superior writing system!
May 19, 2015 10:27 Report Abuse
Lets see this for what it is, a clear demonstration of the fact that in China there are often two completely opposing forces in effect. The country wants to be seen as more international and more outward looking but in turn is in the grip of a wave of nationalism not seen since the middle of the last century. This is clearly reflected in the way language is viewed, learning English is seen as essential to the future success of not just individuals but of China as a whole but at the the same time there is a crackdown on any form of English environment (especially in the media). Many languages borrow words from others, English speakers use a different language every time our child goes to kindergarten, we call our clumsy friend a klutz and we go to place A via place B. Are we insulting the "purity" of our language? Of course not.
May 19, 2015 00:32 Report Abuse
I think there is quite a difference between using a word from another language and using a mishmash of two languages so you can show off your ability in another language. Using the odd foreign word can make a sentence stand out (especially when your own language lacks an equivalent, or the foreign word is much more colourful) but that ridiculous sentence above with 6 English words in it is just showing off. I suspect the author of the article should have put it in those terms more strongly and then more people would have agreed with him.
May 19, 2015 21:16 Report Abuse
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