Westernised Chinese language

Common Chinese-language errors by non-native learners of Chinese (sometimes called Westernised Chinese (Chinese: 西式中文)), usually refers to a pattern of written or spoken Chinese language, characterised by the significant influence from European languages, with regards to grammar, vocabulary, syntax and word order. Influences from English are particularly noticeable, especially in translations of literary works and documents in English. Westernised Chinese lacks the characteristics of traditional Chinese writing, and sometimes poses reading or understanding difficulties to readers because of its awkwardness and/or wordiness.

Examples

• Abstract nouns as subject. e.g.
  • "The decline in his income has led to changes in his lifestyle."
  • "他的收入的减少改变了他的生活方式。" (他的收入的減少改變了他的生活方式。)
  • (he NOM income NOM decline change PERF he NOM life style.)
  • Better translation: "他因收入减少而改变生活方式。" (他因收入減少而改變生活方式。) (lit. he because [of] income declines, CONJ change life style.)
• Overuse of abstract verbs. e.g.
  • "Audience responded very enthusiastically to the visiting professor."
  • "听众对访问教授作出了十分热烈的反应。" (聼衆對訪問教授做出了十分熱烈的反應)
  • (audience to visiting professor make PERF very enthusiastic response.)
  • Better translation: "听众对访问教授反应十分热烈。" (聼眾對訪問教授反應十分熱烈) (lit. audience to visiting professor respond very enthusiastically.)
• Overuse of "a/an" (一). e.g.
  • "He is a good man."
  • "他是一个好人。" (他是一個好人)
  • (he is one-CL good person.)
  • Better translation: "他是好人。" (lit. he is good person.)
• Overuse of the subordinating particle "的" (NOM).
• Overuse of the passive voice (被动句/被動句) which in Chinese is also associated with negative connotations. e.g.
  • "He is called ..."
  • "他被称为…"
  • (he COVERB call (to-)be...)
  • Better translation: "他叫…" (lit. he calls)
• Overuse of adpositions such as "关于" (about).
• Semantic overlap.
• Overuse of "性" (-ity, lit. property).

See also

• Chinglish