This book offers a distinct exploration of Chinese English – which has the largest rising population of speakers in the World Englishes (WE) family.
Xu focuses on the fundamental issues of "names" and "norms" that are closely related to Chinese English and the "narratives" of the speakers of Chinese English. In addition to current approaches to WE research, this book proposes a novel theoretical and analytical framework based on classical Chinese and Western philosophies. The volume has an empirical basis, drawing upon interview and questionnaire survey data from proficient speakers of Chinese English. It is also based on an extensive review of the relevant literature on both WE and Chinese English, and it draws upon the author’s research experience of over two decades on the subject.
This is the third research book on Chinese English that the author has contributed to WE literature and it will be a valuable read for students and scholars alike.
1. Introduction 2. Revisiting Chinese English 3. Developing a framework for Chinese English 4. Decoding Chinese English names 5. Unpacking Chinese English norms 6. Reconstructing Chinese English narratives
Biography
Zhichang Xu is Senior Lecturer in Linguistics and English Language at the School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics in the Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Australia. His research areas include Chinese English, world Englishes, applied linguistics, cultural linguistics, intercultural education, and translation and interpreting studies. His major publications include Chinese English: Features and Implications (2010), Chinese Rhetoric and Writing (co-authored with Andy Kirkpatrick, 2012), Researching Chinese English: The State of the Art (Eds. Xu, He and Deterding, 2017), and Chinese-English Interpreting and Intercultural Communication (co-authored with Jim Hlavac, 2020).
"This book pushes the edge. It advances thinking about Chinese English and World Englishes, and deconstructs both in the process. But best of all, it is immensely readable. Xu has drawn on powerful narratives, including his own, to ground theoretical discussions so that everything makes sense. It is a stunning contribution to the field."
Gary Barkhuizen, University of Auckland
"Xu makes several theoretical and practical contributions. By integrating contextual, eco-logical, ideological, and philosophical dimensions into a unified framework, Chinese English ASIAN STUDIES REVIEWbroadens the scope of current research and enhances existing theoretical models for WE, while innovatively combining Chinese and Western philosophies."
An excerpt from a book review by Ying Zhang and Shujun Chen, Asian Studies Review, DOI: 10.1080/10357823.2024.2312590
