新加坡华语外来词使用度调查 = A STUDY OF LOANWORD USAGE IN SINGAPORE MANDARIN

Abstract

Although the loanwords in Singapore Mandarin (SgM) are diversified into many areas for Singaporeans to get in touched with, there is an obvious gap between the prevalence of loanwords and its usage. This thesis studies the loanword usage in SgM by using the cooked food lexicon as a case in point. Surveys are conducted in eating places and supermarkets to gather 53 English loanwords, 29 Malay loanwords and 4 Tamil loanwords. At the same time, the usage occurrences of all these loanwords as well as its original words and equivalent counterparts are gathered. Surveys are also done in local Chinese newspapers and local Chinese Singaporeans to gather their usage occurrences. The result revealed that in eating places and supermarkets, all loanwords have lower usages than its original words. On the other hand, Chinese newspapers show that Malay loanwords have higher usage than its original words. Tamil loanwords have lower usage than its original words and equivalent counterparts. Half of the English loanword usage is lower than its original words while all of it is lower than its equivalent counterparts. Overall, all loanwords are mostly used as written form in the Chinese newspapers while only an extremely small number of it is used in the daily speech and writing by the Chinese locals.Although the loanwords in Singapore Mandarin (SgM) are diversified into many areas for Singaporeans to get in touched with, there is an obvious gap between the prevalence of loanwords and its usage. This thesis studies the loanword usage in SgM by using the cooked food lexicon as a case in point. Surveys are conducted in eating places and supermarkets to gather 53 English loanwords, 29 Malay loanwords and 4 Tamil loanwords. At the same time, the usage occurrences of all these loanwords as well as its original words and equivalent counterparts are gathered. Surveys are also done in local Chinese newspapers and local Chinese Singaporeans to gather their usage occurrences. The result revealed that in eating places and supermarkets, all loanwords have lower usages than its original words. On the other hand, Chinese newspapers show that Malay loanwords have higher usage than its original words. Tamil loanwords have lower usage than its original words and equivalent counterparts. Half of the English loanword usage is lower than its original words while all of it is lower than its equivalent counterparts. Overall, all loanwords are mostly used as written form in the Chinese newspapers while only an extremely small number of it is used in the daily speech and writing by the Chinese locals.Although the loanwords in Singapore Mandarin (SgM) are diversified into many areas for Singaporeans to get in touched with, there is an obvious gap between the prevalence of loanwords and its usage. This thesis studies the loanword usage in SgM by using the cooked food lexicon as a case in point. Surveys are conducted in eating places and supermarkets to gather 53 English loanwords, 29 Malay loanwords and 4 Tamil loanwords. At the same time, the usage occurrences of all these loanwords as well as its original words and equivalent counterparts are gathered. Surveys are also done in local Chinese newspapers and local Chinese Singaporeans to gather their usage occurrences. The result revealed that in eating places and supermarkets, all loanwords have lower usages than its original words. On the other hand, Chinese newspapers show that Malay loanwords have higher usage than its original words. Tamil loanwords have lower usage than its original words and equivalent counterparts. Half of the English loanword usage is lower than its original words while all of it is lower than its equivalent counterparts. Overall, all loanwords are mostly used as written form in the Chinese newspapers while only an extremely small number of it is used in the daily speech and writing by the Chinese locals.