Analysis of Lexicalization Patterns of "Fast Food" and Other Cross-Strait Synonyms
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Abstract
Cross-Strait synonyms refer to variant lexical items used respectively in Mainland China and Taiwan to express the same or closely related concepts, representing a significant component of lexical divergence between the two regions. Although these pairs are often treated as equivalents, their meanings are not entirely congruent. This study investigates the underlying mechanisms behind such lexical differences from the perspective of lexicalization, using representative examples such as sùshí (速食) vs. kuàicān (快餐) ‘fast food,’ jíróng (即溶) vs. sùróng (速溶) ‘instant/quick dissolve,’ and huāshì (花式) vs. huāyàng (花样) ‘patterned’ or ‘variety.’
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