模因论视角下“中国英语”出现原因及发展前景研究
摘要
“中国英语”自提出以来就充满了争议。很多学者认为中国并不具备拥有自己的英语变体的社会基础;同时,这一提法也缺乏理论依据,因此是不现实的。其次,中国人使用英语主要是为了与外界交流,而“中国英语”将会影响英语的可理解性;并且如果认可了“中国英语”,那将不可避免的会出现“韩国英语”、“朝鲜英语”等。任何国家都可以要求拥有自己的英语变体,这将导致英语的分化,使其成为一门无法理解的语言,不利于跨文化交际的顺利进行,因此“中国英语”也是没有必要的。针对这两点质疑,本文将以模因论为理论基础来论证“中国英语”出现的原因,必要性及其广阔的发展前景。
模因论是基于达尔文的生物进化论而提出的一种文化进化理论。“模因”一词由理查德.道金斯最先提出。他将模因视为一种新的复制因子,文化传播的基本单位。模因有成功模因和死亡模因,强势模因和弱势模因,单个模因和模因复合体之分。同时,道金斯也指出强势模因必须具备长寿性、多产性和保真性三个重要特征。那影响模因成功的因素都有那些呢?布莱克摩尔和笛丝婷提出了自己的看法。布莱克摩尔认为人类作为模因选择者之本性和模因自身的特性是导致一些模因成功而另一些模因失败的两大原因。笛丝婷指出模因的成功与否受到环境因素和模因内容的影响。其中的环境因素又包括模因环境、物理环境和生物环境。这为我们论证“中国英语”的出现、存在及发展提供了新的理论视角。
在分析了模因论的相关观点之后,作者认为目前“中国英语”就可以称为一个强势的模因复合体。即中国不仅具备了拥有自己的英语变体的社会基础,而且“中国英语”具有广阔的发展前景。首先,“中国英语”出现的物理环境、模因环境和人作为模因选择者之本性构成了“中国英语”出现的前提条件。其次,“中国英语”的保真性、长寿性及其必将具备的多产性也符合道金斯提出的强势模因的本质特性;并且,“中国英语”显示和保持文化身份的功能与促进文化进化的功能也表明了其存在与发展的必要性。因此,“中国英语”的特性及其必要性也共同构成了称其为强势模因复合体的理据。
China English has all along been a controversial issue since it was put forward for the first time. Many scholars maintain that the proposal of China English is impractical for the lack of social basis as well as a theoretical foundation. On the other hand, the use of English by the Chinese people is mainly for international communication, whereas China English will reduce the intelligibility of English. What’s more, the acknowledgement of China English will cause other countries to follow suit to claim the rationality of English used in their country. The consequence is that English will become more and more unintelligible, which will definitely hamper the smooth progress of intercultural communication. Therefore, China English is unnecessary either. In light of the questions above, the author will take memetics as the theoretical foundation to explore the reasons for the emergence of China English, its necessity and prospect.
Memetics can be interpreted as a cultural evolution theory based on Darwin’s theory of biological evolution. The term meme is initially put forward by Clinton Richard Dawkins, who regards meme as a new kind of replicator, or a unit of cultural transmission. Memes can be divided into successful memes and dead memes, strong memes and weak memes, a single meme and memeplex. Besides, Dawkins proposes three qualities of strong memes: longevity, fecundity and copying-fidelity. As for the factors influencing memetic success, Blackmore and Distin give their opinions. According to Blackmore, the nature of the human beings as the memetic selector and the qualities of the memes themselves constitute the reasons for the success or failure of memes. Distin contends that the environmental factors and the memetic content are the two factors influencing memetic success. Besides, the environmental factors consist of the physical environment, the memetic environment and the biological environment. All of these provide us with a new perspective to explore the emergence, existence, necessity and prospect of China English.
After analyzing the relevant ideas of memetics, the author holds that China English is a strong memeplex now. First of all, the physical environment, the memetic environment and the nature of the Chinese people as the selector of English meme constitute the premises for the emergence of China English. Secondly, China English possesses such qualities of strong memes as coping-fidelity and longevity proposed by Charles Dawkins, and it will certainly satisfy the quality of fecundity as will be proved in this thesis. In addition, the function of China English to demonstrate and maintain cultural identity, as well as the function to promote cultural evolution shows clearly its necessity. In a word, the qualities of China English and its necessity jointly form the rationality of China English as a strong memeplex.
模因论是基于达尔文的生物进化论而提出的一种文化进化理论。“模因”一词由理查德.道金斯最先提出。他将模因视为一种新的复制因子,文化传播的基本单位。模因有成功模因和死亡模因,强势模因和弱势模因,单个模因和模因复合体之分。同时,道金斯也指出强势模因必须具备长寿性、多产性和保真性三个重要特征。那影响模因成功的因素都有那些呢?布莱克摩尔和笛丝婷提出了自己的看法。布莱克摩尔认为人类作为模因选择者之本性和模因自身的特性是导致一些模因成功而另一些模因失败的两大原因。笛丝婷指出模因的成功与否受到环境因素和模因内容的影响。其中的环境因素又包括模因环境、物理环境和生物环境。这为我们论证“中国英语”的出现、存在及发展提供了新的理论视角。
在分析了模因论的相关观点之后,作者认为目前“中国英语”就可以称为一个强势的模因复合体。即中国不仅具备了拥有自己的英语变体的社会基础,而且“中国英语”具有广阔的发展前景。首先,“中国英语”出现的物理环境、模因环境和人作为模因选择者之本性构成了“中国英语”出现的前提条件。其次,“中国英语”的保真性、长寿性及其必将具备的多产性也符合道金斯提出的强势模因的本质特性;并且,“中国英语”显示和保持文化身份的功能与促进文化进化的功能也表明了其存在与发展的必要性。因此,“中国英语”的特性及其必要性也共同构成了称其为强势模因复合体的理据。
China English has all along been a controversial issue since it was put forward for the first time. Many scholars maintain that the proposal of China English is impractical for the lack of social basis as well as a theoretical foundation. On the other hand, the use of English by the Chinese people is mainly for international communication, whereas China English will reduce the intelligibility of English. What’s more, the acknowledgement of China English will cause other countries to follow suit to claim the rationality of English used in their country. The consequence is that English will become more and more unintelligible, which will definitely hamper the smooth progress of intercultural communication. Therefore, China English is unnecessary either. In light of the questions above, the author will take memetics as the theoretical foundation to explore the reasons for the emergence of China English, its necessity and prospect.
Memetics can be interpreted as a cultural evolution theory based on Darwin’s theory of biological evolution. The term meme is initially put forward by Clinton Richard Dawkins, who regards meme as a new kind of replicator, or a unit of cultural transmission. Memes can be divided into successful memes and dead memes, strong memes and weak memes, a single meme and memeplex. Besides, Dawkins proposes three qualities of strong memes: longevity, fecundity and copying-fidelity. As for the factors influencing memetic success, Blackmore and Distin give their opinions. According to Blackmore, the nature of the human beings as the memetic selector and the qualities of the memes themselves constitute the reasons for the success or failure of memes. Distin contends that the environmental factors and the memetic content are the two factors influencing memetic success. Besides, the environmental factors consist of the physical environment, the memetic environment and the biological environment. All of these provide us with a new perspective to explore the emergence, existence, necessity and prospect of China English.
After analyzing the relevant ideas of memetics, the author holds that China English is a strong memeplex now. First of all, the physical environment, the memetic environment and the nature of the Chinese people as the selector of English meme constitute the premises for the emergence of China English. Secondly, China English possesses such qualities of strong memes as coping-fidelity and longevity proposed by Charles Dawkins, and it will certainly satisfy the quality of fecundity as will be proved in this thesis. In addition, the function of China English to demonstrate and maintain cultural identity, as well as the function to promote cultural evolution shows clearly its necessity. In a word, the qualities of China English and its necessity jointly form the rationality of China English as a strong memeplex.
引文
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---. The Meme Machine. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
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Kramsch, Claire. Language and Culture. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2000.
Dawkins, R. The Selfish Gene. New York: Oxford University Press, 1976.
Distin, K. The Selfish Meme. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Chen Guoming and William J. Starosta. Foundations of Intercultural Communication. Allyn & Bacon, A Viacom Company, USA, 1998.
Heylighen, F.“What Makes A Meme Successful? Selection Criteria for Cultural Evolution”. http://cogprints.org/ 1132/1/MemeticsNamur.html
Hu Xiaoqing.“China English, at Home and in the World”. English Today 21(2005):27-38.
Klyukanov, Igor E.“Book Review on Principles of Intercultural Communication”. International Journal of International Relations 30(2006):413-20.
Jian Yang.“Chinese Borrowing in English”. World Englishes 1(2009):90-106.
Jiang Yajun.“English as a Chinese Language”. English Today 74(2003):3-8.
Samovar, Larry A. and Porter, Richard E. Intercultural Communication: A Reader. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2007.
Lustig, Myron W. and Jolene, Koester. Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication Across Cultures. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2007.
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---. Intercultural Communication: A Reader. 10th ed.. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2007.
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段林远.中式思维与中国英语[D].广西师范大学, 2003.
葛传椝赣珊阂胗⑽侍鈁J].翻译通讯,1980(2).
韩玲.“中国英语”研究现状分析[J].外语与外语教学, 2007(10):28-32.
郝吉环.中国英语的现状评析[J].天津外国语学院学报, 2003(5):45-48.
郝妍焱.关于促进中国英语发展的几点设想[J].山东农业大学学报(社会科学版), 2001(2):101-04.
贺春艳,刘景霞.中国英语的文化身份[J].西南科技大学学报(哲学社会科学版), 2008(4):86-90.
胡丹.关于中国英语词汇前景的研究---模因学和中国文化的视角[D].江苏大学, 2008.
顾静.透视美国新闻期刊对中国特色词汇的翻译[J].上海翻译, 2005(1):57-60.
关世杰.跨文化交流学---提高涉外交流的学问[M].北京:北京大学出版社,1995.
贾冠杰,向明友.为中国英语一辩[J].外语与外语教学, 1997(5):11-12.
贾毓玲.从<<政府工作报告>>的翻译谈如何克服“中式英语”的倾向[J].上海科技翻译, 2003(4): 26-28.
江晓红.跨文化交际中的中国英语[J].四川外国语学院学报, 2001(6):46-48.
姜亚军.近二十年World Englishes研究述评[J].外语教学与研究, 1995(3):13-19.
姜亚军,杜瑞清.有关“中国英语”的问题---对“中国英语质疑”一文的回应[J].外语教学, 2003(1): 27-35.
金惠康.中国英语[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社, 2004.
理查德.道金斯著.卢允中,张岱云译.自私的模因[M].吉林:吉林人民出版社, 1998.
李少华.英语全球化、本土化视野中的中国英语[J].宁夏大学学报(人文社会科学版), 2005(4):61-63.
---.英语全球化、本土化视野中的中国英语[M].宁夏:宁夏人民出版社, 2006.
李文忠.中国英语与中国式英语[J].外语教学与研究, 1993(4):18-24.
林秋云.作为外语的英语变体:中国英语[J].外语与外语教学, 1998(8):15-17.
陆雪晶.论中国英语的客观存在及意义[D].黑龙江大学, 2009.
罗运芝.中国英语前景观[J].外语与外语教学, 1998(5):24-26.
孟臻,虞正亭.中国英语与英语教学[J].山东外语教学, 2003(1):9-11.
潘章仙.中国英语变体中的语言和文化认同[M].北京:北京大学出版社, 2005.
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Blackmore, S.“Evolution and Memes: the Human Brain as A Selective Imitation Device”. Scientific America 32(2000):225-55.
---. The Meme Machine. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Bolton, K.“Chinese Englishes: from Canton Jargon to Global English”. World Englishes 21(2002):181-99.
Kramsch, Claire. Language and Culture. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2000.
Dawkins, R. The Selfish Gene. New York: Oxford University Press, 1976.
Distin, K. The Selfish Meme. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Chen Guoming and William J. Starosta. Foundations of Intercultural Communication. Allyn & Bacon, A Viacom Company, USA, 1998.
Heylighen, F.“What Makes A Meme Successful? Selection Criteria for Cultural Evolution”. http://cogprints.org/ 1132/1/MemeticsNamur.html
Hu Xiaoqing.“China English, at Home and in the World”. English Today 21(2005):27-38.
Klyukanov, Igor E.“Book Review on Principles of Intercultural Communication”. International Journal of International Relations 30(2006):413-20.
Jian Yang.“Chinese Borrowing in English”. World Englishes 1(2009):90-106.
Jiang Yajun.“English as a Chinese Language”. English Today 74(2003):3-8.
Samovar, Larry A. and Porter, Richard E. Intercultural Communication: A Reader. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2007.
Lustig, Myron W. and Jolene, Koester. Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication Across Cultures. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2007.
Moran, Patrick R. Teaching Culture: Perspectives in Practice. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2004.
Niu Qiang and Wolff, Martin.“The Chinglish Syndrome: Do Recent Developments Endanger the language Policy of China?”. English Today 19(2003):30-35.
Samovar, Larry A. and Porter, Richard E. Communication Between Cultures. 5th ed.. Beijing: Peking University Press, 2004.
---. Intercultural Communication: A Reader. 10th ed.. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2007.
Ting-Toomey, Stella. Communication Across Cultures. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2007.
Wei Yun and Fei Jia.“Using English in China”. English Today 20(2001):42-47.
Gudykunst, William B. and Kim, Young Yun. Communication with Strangers: An Approach to Intercultural Communication. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2007.
Gudykunst, William B. Cross-Cultural and Intercultural Communication. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2007.
Zhao Yong and Campbell, K. P.“English in China”. World Englishes 14(1995):377-90.
Zhou Zipei and Feng Wengchi.“The Two Faces of English in China: Englishization of Chinese and Nativization of English”. World Englishes 16(1987):111-25.
邓炎昌,刘润清.语言与文化[M].北京:外语教学与研究社, 1989.
杜瑞清,姜亚军.近二十年中国英语研究评述[J].外语教学与研究, 2001(1):37-41.
杜争鸣.中国英语问题及其他[J].外语教学, 1998(3):6-14.
段林远.中式思维与中国英语[D].广西师范大学, 2003.
葛传椝赣珊阂胗⑽侍鈁J].翻译通讯,1980(2).
韩玲.“中国英语”研究现状分析[J].外语与外语教学, 2007(10):28-32.
郝吉环.中国英语的现状评析[J].天津外国语学院学报, 2003(5):45-48.
郝妍焱.关于促进中国英语发展的几点设想[J].山东农业大学学报(社会科学版), 2001(2):101-04.
贺春艳,刘景霞.中国英语的文化身份[J].西南科技大学学报(哲学社会科学版), 2008(4):86-90.
胡丹.关于中国英语词汇前景的研究---模因学和中国文化的视角[D].江苏大学, 2008.
顾静.透视美国新闻期刊对中国特色词汇的翻译[J].上海翻译, 2005(1):57-60.
关世杰.跨文化交流学---提高涉外交流的学问[M].北京:北京大学出版社,1995.
贾冠杰,向明友.为中国英语一辩[J].外语与外语教学, 1997(5):11-12.
贾毓玲.从<<政府工作报告>>的翻译谈如何克服“中式英语”的倾向[J].上海科技翻译, 2003(4): 26-28.
江晓红.跨文化交际中的中国英语[J].四川外国语学院学报, 2001(6):46-48.
姜亚军.近二十年World Englishes研究述评[J].外语教学与研究, 1995(3):13-19.
姜亚军,杜瑞清.有关“中国英语”的问题---对“中国英语质疑”一文的回应[J].外语教学, 2003(1): 27-35.
金惠康.中国英语[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社, 2004.
理查德.道金斯著.卢允中,张岱云译.自私的模因[M].吉林:吉林人民出版社, 1998.
李少华.英语全球化、本土化视野中的中国英语[J].宁夏大学学报(人文社会科学版), 2005(4):61-63.
---.英语全球化、本土化视野中的中国英语[M].宁夏:宁夏人民出版社, 2006.
李文忠.中国英语与中国式英语[J].外语教学与研究, 1993(4):18-24.
林秋云.作为外语的英语变体:中国英语[J].外语与外语教学, 1998(8):15-17.
陆雪晶.论中国英语的客观存在及意义[D].黑龙江大学, 2009.
罗运芝.中国英语前景观[J].外语与外语教学, 1998(5):24-26.
孟臻,虞正亭.中国英语与英语教学[J].山东外语教学, 2003(1):9-11.
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