Cross-strait Variations on Two Near-synonymous Loanwords xie2shang1 and tan2pan4: A Corpus-based Comparative Study

TL;DR

This study compares the usage and contextual differences of two synonymous Chinese loanwords, xie2shang1 and tan2pan4, across Taiwan and Mainland Mandarin, revealing significant variations in their distribution, meaning, and contextual applications.

Contribution

It provides a corpus-based comparative analysis of cross-strait variations in the usage of two near-synonymous loanwords, highlighting their distributional, contextual, and functional differences.

Findings

xie2shang1 is overused in Taiwan Mandarin; tan2pan4 is overused in Mainland Mandarin.

Both words can refer to inchoative processes but differ in usage nuances.

Contextual applications vary, with political, economic, and diplomatic distinctions.

Abstract

This study attempts to investigate cross-strait variations on two typical synonymous loanwords in Chinese, i.e. xie2shang1 and tan2pan4, drawn on MARVS theory. Through a comparative analysis, the study found some distributional, eventual, and contextual similarities and differences across Taiwan and Mainland Mandarin. Compared with the underused tan2pan4, xie2shang1 is significantly overused in Taiwan Mandarin and vice versa in Mainland Mandarin. Additionally, though both words can refer to an inchoative process in Mainland and Taiwan Mandarin, the starting point for xie2shang1 in Mainland Mandarin is somewhat blurring compared with the usage in Taiwan Mandarin. Further on, in Taiwan Mandarin, tan2pan4 can be used in economic and diplomatic contexts, while xie2shang1 is used almost exclusively in political contexts. In Mainland Mandarin, however, the two words can be used in a hybrid manner within political contexts; moreover, tan2pan4 is prominently used in diplomatic contexts with less reference to economic activities, while xie2sahng1 can be found in both political and legal contexts, emphasizing a role of mediation.