In contrast to 'standard' English, some participants hold the following opinions on China English:
China English is just a joke. It is only used when people make fun and
tell jokes (Male, 21, 5 months). It [China English] would not be
understood by foreigners (Male, 20-25, 5 months).
The majority of the participants also shared the view that English
was primarily a tool for international communication: because most of
the countries in the world are English-speaking countries, if we want to
be understood by people in other countries, we need to know English for
international communication (Male, 23, 5 months). Many people can speak
English and many countries are English-speaking for example Japan
(Female, 25-30, 6 months). English is most Replica Watches
widely used, a lingua franca for non-English speaking countries, we can
communicate with much more people even if we don't know each others'
mother language (Female, 22, 5 months). Although English is viewed as
universal in institutional discourse, some participants did express
their interest in Western culture as a reason for learning English. This
appears to be a mismatch between the institutional and learners'
discourses of English which, however, is not addressed in this article.
Apart from being a universal modern skill, English is also a tool to
let the world know about China in both the institutional and learners'
discourses. One article from the People's Daily remarks that Despite the
neutral role ascribed to English as a universal modern skill, this role
of English as a tool to let the world know about China is a somewhat
nationalistic one. The evolution of Chinese history, culture and
civilisation was presented to the world in the Opening Ceremony of the
Olympic Games in Beijing. The ceremony itself highlighted the four great
inventions of gunpowder, compass, paper and printing, and the
traditional Chinese value of harmony introduced to the world the
greatness and rise of the country (Shuang, Wang & Gao, 9 August,
2008:1). Not only is English a tool to know about the world for China,
as Orton (2007) illustrates, it is also a desire for China to show its
glorious past and intention for harmonious international relations to
the international community. To achieve this aim the universal tongue,
i.e. 'standard' English, is the best vehicle.
Three out of the ten participants pointed out the role of English as a
tool to let the world know about China. One participant, for example,
asserted that: It [English] is definitely useful no matter for whom...we
need to Omega Replica Watches
introduce Chinese to the West by learning English. English is useful
for everyone to introduce China's greatness to the West... just like
some of the great inventions in China. Western people think they
invented them but actually China had invented them a few centuries
earlier (Female, 25, 2 years and 6 months). Interesting enough, this
participant's comment on the four great inventions of ancient China was
made before the Opening Ceremony. The reclamation of China's
international status appears to be a common goal of the government and
the public. One participant seemed concerned about Westerners' false
perceptions of China and said: 'Westerners still have some
misunderstandings about China. We need to learn English to tell them
about China.'
Both the institutional and learners' discourses about English, as the
study has shown, describe English as a universal skill for
modernisation and international communication, as well as a tool to let
the world know about China. 'Standard' American (and to a lesser extent,
British) English is the preferred variety to learn and use as, on the
one hand, it is the best vehicle to learn modernisation; and on the
other hand, it is not regarded as associated with a particular culture.
The list of the ascribed roles of English in China as examined in this
paper is definitely not conclusive. Future research not only needs to
explore students' views in Mainland China, but also overseas Chinese
students' attitudes in depth as this group is increasing in number, and
many more overseas students return to China after graduation.