The Phonetic And Semantic Continuum Of Chinese Loanwords

At present,there are still disputes on the definition of loanwords and the classification of loanwords.The types of "loanwords that only involve borrowing sounds or borrowing meanings" divided by different scholars cross each other.Different scholars' opinions on the same loanword "whether it reflects the meaning of foreign words" are sometimes not completely consistent.Therefore,we believe that the various types of "loanwords that only involve borrowing sounds or borrowing meanings" are actually a whole with continuous changes in sounds or meanings.We try to build a "phonetic and semantic continuum" of Chinese loanwords and express this continuity clearly.This paper is divided into three parts.In the first part,a one-dimensional basic model of "phonetic and semantic continuum" is constructed.We constructed a basic "phonetic and semantic continuum" of Chinese loanwords according to the degree that the sounds and meanings of the Chinese characters in the loanwords match the sounds and meanings of the original words of the foreign language,and located five basic types of the continuum.All types are analyzed with examples of loanwords.In the second part,the two-dimensional basic model and combined model of " phonetic and semantic continuum" are constructed.On the basis of the one-dimensional basic model of the "phonetic and semantic continuum",we have formulated an arrangement standard of "vertical continuity" for each of the five basic points,and constructed a two-dimensional basic model containing 10 basic points.Then further use the 5 points on the one-dimensional basic model to construct 25 theoretical combination possibilities,and use the 10 points on the two-dimensional basic model to construct 100 theoretical combination possibilities,and use the combination model to analyze three types of Chinese loanwords.In the third part,some problems of "phonetic and semantic continuum" are discussed further.First,we use "phonetic and semantic continuum" to analyze the changing rules of foreign words with multiple translations.Secondly,we analyzed the metonymy and metaphorical phenomena in the loanwords which are characterized by "transliteration is dominant and semantic translation is auxiliary".Finally,we analyzed the loanwords that "transliteration is dominant,and semantic translation is auxiliary" in the literary works,and explained why these words are easily misunderstood.