Analysis of Pragmatic Negative Transfer and Chinglish Phenomena from the Perspective of Second Language Acquisition EFL Learners

Authors

  • Kexin Jia Nanning Normal University, Nanning, Guangxi Province, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63313/LLCS.9187

Keywords:

Second Language Acquisition, Pragmatic Negative Transfer, Chinglish, Interlanguage Theory

Abstract

Based on second language acquisition theory, this paper explores the mechanism by which pragmatic negative transfer influences the formation of Chinglish. The study demonstrates that Chinese English learners, due to interference from their native pragmatic rules in cross-cultural communication, exhibit negative transfer at lexical, syntactic, and cultural levels. This results in “Chinglish”—a deviation from standard English norms. Integrating Selinker’s interlanguage theory and Kasper’s pragmatic transfer framework, the study argues that Chinglish manifests as a fossilized pragmatic feature of interlanguage.

 

References

[1] Chen, Y. Y. (2014). Chinglish under the influence of negative pragmatic transfer. Journal of Liaoning Administration College, 16(8), 121–122.

[2] Dai, W. D., & Wang, D. (2002). Research on language transfer: Problems and reflections. Journal of Foreign Languages(1), 1–9.

[3] Kasper, G. (1992). Pragmatic transfer in second language research. Second Language Research, 8(3), 203–231.

[4] Li, R. (2007). A brief analysis of the causes and nature of Chinglish. Journal of Language and Literature Studies(3), 91–94.

[5] Li, W. Z. (1993). China English and Chinglish. Foreign Language Teaching and Research(4), 18–24.

[6] Lin, Q. (2001). A brief analysis of Chinglish. Journal of Gansu College of Education (Social Sciences Edition)(2), 60–63.

[7] Pinkham, J. (2000). The translator’s guide to Chinglish. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.

[8] Selinker, L. (1992). Rediscovering interlanguage. New York: Longman.

[9] Wei, S. H., & Li, D. Z. (2009). Negative pragmatic transfer and the emergence of Chinglish. Science & Technology Information(13), 185+202.

[10] Zeng, S. P. (2011). Negative pragmatic transfer and coping strategies in second language acquisition. Journal of Yangtze University (Social Sciences Edition), 34(11), 102–103+110.

[11] Zhu, M. P. (1990). Interlanguage and language transfer. Foreign Language Teaching and Research(3), 61–65.

Downloads

Published

2026-07-27

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Analysis of Pragmatic Negative Transfer and Chinglish Phenomena from the Perspective of Second Language Acquisition EFL Learners. (2026). Literature, Language and Cultural Studies, 6(1), 82–88. https://doi.org/10.63313/LLCS.9187