1 research outputs found
Cross-strait Variations on Two Near-synonymous Loanwords xie2shang1 and tan2pan4: A Corpus-based Comparative Study
This study attempts to investigate cross-strait variations on two typical
synonymous loanwords in Chinese, i.e. xie2shang1 and tan2pan4, drawn on MARVS
theory. Through a comparative analysis, the study found some distributional,
eventual, and contextual similarities and differences across Taiwan and
Mainland Mandarin. Compared with the underused tan2pan4, xie2shang1 is
significantly overused in Taiwan Mandarin and vice versa in Mainland Mandarin.
Additionally, though both words can refer to an inchoative process in Mainland
and Taiwan Mandarin, the starting point for xie2shang1 in Mainland Mandarin is
somewhat blurring compared with the usage in Taiwan Mandarin. Further on, in
Taiwan Mandarin, tan2pan4 can be used in economic and diplomatic contexts,
while xie2shang1 is used almost exclusively in political contexts. In Mainland
Mandarin, however, the two words can be used in a hybrid manner within
political contexts; moreover, tan2pan4 is prominently used in diplomatic
contexts with less reference to economic activities, while xie2sahng1 can be
found in both political and legal contexts, emphasizing a role of mediation.Comment: To appear in PACLIC 2022. 10 pages, 5 figures, 5 table