The Integration of The Integration of English Loanwords in English Loanwords in Hong Kong Cantonese Hong Kong Cantonese SEALSXVII August 2007 by by Cathy S.P. Wong Cathy S.P. Wong Robert Bauer Robert Bauer Zoe Zoe Wai Wai Man Lam Man Lam The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
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The Integration of The Integration of
English Loanwords in English Loanwords in
Hong Kong CantoneseHong Kong Cantonese
SEALSXVIIAugust 2007
byby
Cathy S.P. Wong Cathy S.P. Wong
Robert Bauer Robert Bauer
ZoeZoe WaiWai Man Lam Man Lam
The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University
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1.1. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
�� English and Cantonese are typologically distinct English and Cantonese are typologically distinct languageslanguages but but this in no way impedes mutual this in no way impedes mutual borrowingborrowing..
�� Historical contact between English and Historical contact between English and Cantonese Cantonese began inbegan in the late 17th century when the late 17th century when British traders came to Canton to buy Chinese British traders came to Canton to buy Chinese tea and porcelain. tea and porcelain.
�� English loanwords are documented in the first English loanwords are documented in the first EnglishEnglish--Cantonese, CantoneseCantonese, Cantonese--English English dictdictiionary published in 1828.onary published in 1828.
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�� Three methods by which English words have Three methods by which English words have
been borrowed into Cantonese: been borrowed into Cantonese:
�� We have limited our database to borrowings of We have limited our database to borrowings of
(1) and (3).(1) and (3).
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2.2. DATABASE OF ENGLISH DATABASE OF ENGLISH
LOANWORDS IN HONG LOANWORDS IN HONG
KONG CANTONESEKONG CANTONESE
�� Our database of English loanwords Our database of English loanwords comprises about 650 lexical entries. comprises about 650 lexical entries.
�� 85% include only phonetically85% include only phonetically--transliterated syllables.transliterated syllables.
�� 15% are made up of at least one 15% are made up of at least one phoneticallyphonetically--transliterated syllable and at transliterated syllable and at least one Cantonese least one Cantonese morphosyllablemorphosyllablewhich bears some semantic relationship which bears some semantic relationship to the loanword.to the loanword.
�� 3.33.3 Change of Syntactic CategoriesChange of Syntactic Categories
�� 3.43.4 ClippingClipping
�� 3.53.5 ProductivityProductivity
�� 3.63.6 Semantic Transfer and Semantic Semantic Transfer and Semantic Change in LoanwordsChange in Loanwords
�� 3.73.7 AcceptabilityAcceptability
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3.3.11 Written Representation of Written Representation of
LoanwordsLoanwords�� One measure of loanword integration in One measure of loanword integration in
Cantonese is the sizeable number of loanwords Cantonese is the sizeable number of loanwords which are conventionally written with Chinese which are conventionally written with Chinese characters.characters.
�� In Robert MorrisonIn Robert Morrison’’s Vocabulary of the Canton s Vocabulary of the Canton Dialect, the worldDialect, the world’’s first Englishs first English--Cantonese, Cantonese, CantoneseCantonese--English dictionary published in 1828, English dictionary published in 1828, the following English words were listed as having the following English words were listed as having been borrowed into Cantonese:been borrowed into Cantonese:
�� If a loanword shares the same If a loanword shares the same morphomorpho--syntactic syntactic features of native Cantonese lexical items, it is a features of native Cantonese lexical items, it is a clear indication that the loanword has been clear indication that the loanword has been integrated into the Cantonese language system.integrated into the Cantonese language system.
�� The following The following morphomorpho--syntactic structures are syntactic structures are found among English loanwords:found among English loanwords:�� -- --dei2 construction dei2 construction
�� -- --zo2 suffixed to verbs zo2 suffixed to verbs
�� --仔仔 --zai2 suffixed to nounszai2 suffixed to nouns
�� The The Cantonese sCantonese suffix uffix -- --dei2 dei2 isis added toadded toreduplicatedreduplicated monosyllabic monosyllabic stativestative verbsverbs toto mean mean ‘‘having some quality ofhaving some quality of the the stativestative verbverb’’, such as , such as 藍藍 laam4 laam4 blueblue becomesbecomes 藍藍藍藍 laam4 laam4/2 laam4 laam4/2 dei2 dei2 ‘‘with a shade of bluewith a shade of blue’’�� (1)(1) highhigh hai1 becomes hai1 hai1 becomes hai1 hai1hai1 dei2 dei2 ((‘‘a little a little
zo2zo2 ((‘‘have doubled have doubled in amountin amount’’))..
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--仔仔 --zai2 suffixed to nounszai2 suffixed to nouns
�� Cantonese nouns can be suffixed with the Cantonese nouns can be suffixed with the diminutive diminutive 仔仔 zai2. So can some English zai2. So can some English loanwords:loanwords:�� (7) (7) babybaby bi4 bi1 bi4 bi1 啤啤啤啤 is suffixed by zai2 is suffixed by zai2 仔仔 to to
form form 啤啤仔啤啤仔 bi4 bi1 zai2 (bi4 bi1 zai2 (‘‘small babiessmall babies’’))
�� (8) (8) cadetcadet ket6 det1 is suffixed by zai2 ket6 det1 is suffixed by zai2 仔仔 to form to form ket6 det1 zai2 (ket6 det1 zai2 (‘‘a cadet guya cadet guy’’))
�� (9) (9) ecstacyecstacy is borrowed into Cantonese as an is borrowed into Cantonese as an abbreviation abbreviation ‘‘EE’’. It is suffixed by zai2 . It is suffixed by zai2 仔仔 and and this drug is called this drug is called ‘‘E E 仔仔’’ ji1 zai2 in Cantonese.ji1 zai2 in Cantonese.
�� (10) Similarly, (10) Similarly, ketamineketamine is borrowed as an is borrowed as an abbreviation abbreviation ‘‘KK’’. It is then suffixed by the . It is then suffixed by the diminutive zai2 diminutive zai2 仔仔 to form to form ‘‘K K 仔仔’’ kei1 zai2.kei1 zai2.
stativestative verbsverbs�� Most Cantonese Most Cantonese stativestative verbs share the property verbs share the property
of being able to be modified by the intensifiers of being able to be modified by the intensifiers 好好hou2 hou2 ‘‘veryvery’’, or , or 咁咁 gam3 gam3 ‘‘soso’’, such as , such as 好靚好靚 hou2 hou2 leng3 leng3 ‘‘very prettyvery pretty’’, , 好醒好醒 hou2 sing2 hou2 sing2 ‘‘very smartvery smart’’, , 咁靚咁靚 gam3 leng3 gam3 leng3 ‘‘so prettyso pretty’’, , 咁醒咁醒 gam3 sing2 gam3 sing2 ‘‘so so smartsmart’’..�� (11) (11) highhigh hai1 becomes hai1 becomes 好好highhigh hou2 hai1 (hou2 hai1 (‘‘very very
�� (12)(12) fitfit fit1 becomes fit1 becomes 好好fit hou2 fit1 (fit hou2 fit1 (‘‘very fitvery fit’’, , which is not acceptable in standard English), which is not acceptable in standard English), 咁咁 fit1 (fit1 (‘‘so fitso fit’’).).
‘take a taxi to get there’dik1 heoi3 laa1N � Vdi1 si2taxi
‘let’s go and have a beer’be1 jat1 be1N � Vbe1 zau2beer
‘he and I are good friends’keoi5 tung4 ngo5 hou2 fen1N � Stative Vfen1friend
‘very manly’
‘with some manly quality’
hou2 men1
men1 men1 dei2
N � Stative Vmen1man
English GlossExampleChangeLoanwordOrigin
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3.43.4 ClippingClipping
�� In everyday Cantonese, lengthy expressions In everyday Cantonese, lengthy expressions are are normallynormally abbreviated or clipped to become abbreviated or clipped to become shorter ones.shorter ones. The same is found in loanwords.The same is found in loanwords.
�� One area in which clipping is very prolific is One area in which clipping is very prolific is among among academic subjectsacademic subjects::�� aaccountingccounting �� aa6 kaang1 (for aa6 kaang1 (for ‘‘accountaccount’’); );
�� bus bus baa1 si2 baa1 si2 �� 大巴大巴 daai6 baa1 daai6 baa1 ‘‘public busespublic buses’’, , 小巴小巴siu2 baa1 siu2 baa1 ‘‘mini busesmini buses’’, , 飛巴飛巴 fei1 baa1 fei1 baa1 ‘‘mini buses mini buses that speedthat speed’’..
�� New iNew idiomatic expressions can be formed by diomatic expressions can be formed by loanwords: loanwords: �� TchaikovskyTchaikovsky, , the the famous composerfamous composer,, is is borrowborrowed as ed as
caai4 ho2 fu1 si1 gei1caai4 ho2 fu1 si1 gei1;; the first three syllables caai4 the first three syllables caai4 ho2 fu1 ho2 fu1 nownow means means ‘‘the chauffeurthe chauffeur’’ becausebecause the last the last two syllables si1 kei1two syllables si1 kei1 is the regular Cantonese wordis the regular Cantonese wordfor for ‘‘chauffeurchauffeur’’!!
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�� While both While both ‘‘ballball’’ and and ‘‘bootboot’’ have their respective have their respective native terms (native terms (球球 ffor or ‘‘ballball’’ and and 靴靴 ffor or ‘‘bootboot’’)),, these these two native terms are not two native terms are not usedused. Instead. Instead of using of using the Cantonese words the Cantonese words 球靴球靴 tto refer to o refer to ‘‘ball bootsball boots’’,,the loanword the loanword ‘‘ballball bootboot’’ bo1 but1 isbo1 but1 is usedused..
�� From the adjective From the adjective ‘‘cutecute’’, the phrase Q, the phrase Q 版版 is is created to refer to a cartooncreated to refer to a cartoon--like version. like version.
�� A more recent creation is the term A more recent creation is the term 咪咀咪咀 mai1 mai1 zeoi2, which comes from the loanword zeoi2, which comes from the loanword ‘‘microphonemicrophone’’ and refers to and refers to ‘‘lip synchronylip synchrony’’..
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3.63.6 Semantic Transfer and Semantic Transfer and
Semantic Change in LoanwordsSemantic Change in Loanwords
�� TThe meanings of some loanwords can undergo he meanings of some loanwords can undergo change by becoming narrower or more specific in change by becoming narrower or more specific in relation to the meanings of the original English relation to the meanings of the original English wordswords..�� aa3 soe4 aa3 soe4 (from (from ‘‘sirsir’’))
•• an address term for male teachers and police officers can also an address term for male teachers and police officers can also be used as a noun to mean male teachers and police officersbe used as a noun to mean male teachers and police officers
�� gei6 lim4/1 gei6 lim4/1 (from(from ‘‘creamcream’’))•• used used only only in the context of cake, such as gei6 lim4/1 daan6 in the context of cake, such as gei6 lim4/1 daan6
gou1 gou1 ‘‘cream cakecream cake’’. .
•• Cantonese has actually borrowed English cream twice, first as Cantonese has actually borrowed English cream twice, first as gei6 lim1 and then later as kwim1 which can mean eithergei6 lim1 and then later as kwim1 which can mean either face face cream or the drinkable creamcream or the drinkable cream made from whole milk. made from whole milk.
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�� foem1 foem1 ((from from ‘‘firmfirm’’))•• only used in reference to oneonly used in reference to one’’s muscless muscles
�� gin3 bot1gin3 bot1 (from (from ‘‘boardboard’’))•• means means ‘‘to attend an interview for promotion in the police to attend an interview for promotion in the police
force or civil serviceforce or civil service’’..
�� ou1 faa3/2 ou1 faa3/2 (from (from ‘‘offeroffer’’))•• only used in walkieonly used in walkie--talkie or shorttalkie or short--wave radio exchanges to wave radio exchanges to
indicate that the speaker has finished his/her utterance and is indicate that the speaker has finished his/her utterance and is indicating that it is the turn of the other party to speak.indicating that it is the turn of the other party to speak.
�� sot1 (from sot1 (from ‘‘short circuitshort circuit’’))•• originally used in referring to electricity short circuit; now originally used in referring to electricity short circuit; now
used to refer to someone whoused to refer to someone who’’s s ‘‘crazycrazy’’, an analogy to , an analogy to electricity malfunction.electricity malfunction.
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3.73.7 AcceptabilityAcceptability
�� Many English letters have been accepted in Cantonese.Many English letters have been accepted in Cantonese.
�� MMost commonost common: : M and XM and X because of bus routes.because of bus routes.
�� BBus routeus routess that end in an M indicate that the bus that end in an M indicate that the bus terminates at a subway station (the subway in Hong Kong terminates at a subway station (the subway in Hong Kong is called MTR) while X stands for an is called MTR) while X stands for an ‘‘expressexpress’’ bus route. bus route.
�� The letters M and X are also found in a lot of loanwords The letters M and X are also found in a lot of loanwords such as MC, MP3, MV, SM, XO, Xsuch as MC, MP3, MV, SM, XO, X 光光 (for X(for X--ray). ray).
�� Other English letters Other English letters used used in Cantonese includein Cantonese include::�� C (as in PVC, MC), C (as in PVC, MC), G (as in G (as in 3G3G, NG, RPG), , NG, RPG),
�� K (as in OK, K K (as in OK, K 仔,仔,OK OK 便利店便利店), ), N (as in N N (as in N 年前年前, NG), , NG),
�� O (as in OK, OL, OO (as in OK, OL, O記記), ), P (as in P P (as in P 場場, MP3, PVC,, MP3, PVC, RPG), RPG),
�� R (as in RPG), R (as in RPG), S (as in SM), S (as in SM),
�� T (as in TT (as in T--恤恤, , TT--back, Tback, T字位字位), ), U (as in CU, BU, UV), U (as in CU, BU, UV),
�� V (as in VCD, MV, VV (as in VCD, MV, V--領領, PVC, UV, VIP)., PVC, UV, VIP).
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4.4. CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
�� TThe integration of loanwords he integration of loanwords has been analyzed has been analyzed according toaccording to several aspects: the writing system, several aspects: the writing system, the the morphomorpho--syntactic structure, word formation syntactic structure, word formation processes, semantic feature, and social processes, semantic feature, and social acceptability.acceptability.
�� The evidence is clear that many English The evidence is clear that many English loanwords have been fully integrated into the loanwords have been fully integrated into the Cantonese language.Cantonese language.
�� More recently borrowed items tend to show More recently borrowed items tend to show fewer of the above features, indicating that the fewer of the above features, indicating that the integration process takes time and it is an integration process takes time and it is an ongoing one.ongoing one.
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REFERENCESREFERENCES
�� Bauer, Robert. 2006. The Stratification of English Bauer, Robert. 2006. The Stratification of English Loanwords in Cantonese. Loanwords in Cantonese. Journal of Chinese LinguisticsJournal of Chinese Linguistics, , 34(2).34(2).
�� Bauer, Robert and Benedict, Paul. 1997. Bauer, Robert and Benedict, Paul. 1997. Modern Modern Cantonese PhonologyCantonese Phonology. Berlin: Mouton de . Berlin: Mouton de GruyterGruyter..
�� Chan, Mimi and Kwok, Helen. 1982. Chan, Mimi and Kwok, Helen. 1982. A Study of Lexical A Study of Lexical Borrowing from English in Hong Kong ChineseBorrowing from English in Hong Kong Chinese. Hong . Hong Kong: Centre of Asian Studies, University of Hong Kong.Kong: Centre of Asian Studies, University of Hong Kong.
�� PoplackPoplack, Shana and , Shana and SankoffSankoff, David. 1984. Borrowing: , David. 1984. Borrowing: the synchrony of integration. the synchrony of integration. LinguisticsLinguistics 22: 9922: 99--135.135.
�� Wong, Cathy S.P. 2006. Wong, Cathy S.P. 2006. From fiu1si2 to saa1si2From fiu1si2 to saa1si2——A A look at the stages of integration of English loanwords in look at the stages of integration of English loanwords in CantoneseCantonese. Paper presented at the 5th Workshop on . Paper presented at the 5th Workshop on Cantonese. Hong Kong: The Chinese University of Cantonese. Hong Kong: The Chinese University of Hong Kong.Hong Kong.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
�� This paper is part of the project entitled This paper is part of the project entitled
‘‘Etymological Dictionary of English Etymological Dictionary of English
Loanwords in CantoneseLoanwords in Cantonese’’ which which is funded is funded
by an Internal Competitive Research Grant by an Internal Competitive Research Grant
of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
�� We would like to take this opportunity to We would like to take this opportunity to
thank Miss thank Miss ZoeZoe Lam (Research Associate) Lam (Research Associate)
for her consistent effort in this project.for her consistent effort in this project.