Multilingual English users’ linguistic innovation

Li Wei · 2020 · World Englishes

Summary. This paper examines whether non-native English speakers can innovate linguistically in English. Using social media data from multilingual users in the Sinophone world, the author demonstrates that creative language mixing combining English with other languages and semiotic resources constitutes genuine linguistic innovation rather than error. A translanguaging perspective reveals these expressions as socio-politically meaningful innovations and challenges traditional notions of discrete named languages.

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@article{wei-2020-multilingual-english-users-linguistic-innovation,
  title   = {Multilingual English users’ linguistic innovation},
  author  = {Li Wei},
  journal = {World Englishes},
  year    = {2020},
  doi     = {10.1111/weng.12457},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1111/weng.12457}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Multilingual English users’ linguistic innovation
AU  - Li Wei
JO  - World Englishes
PY  - 2020
DO  - 10.1111/weng.12457
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/weng.12457
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.1111/weng.12457

Countries

China

Regions

Asia

Categories

innovation-theory, general-innovation

Added

2026-04-28