Compounds words translation by rex

Compounds and translating - Names of Apps

Some apps’ names are examples of bilingual words compounds. OpenRice and WeChat are compounds, respectively containing the meaning of start eating and text each other, but not necessarily containing the meaning of eating rice or make informal conversation. And OpenRice was actually translated from its Chinese name "開飯喇"; while Wechat was semi-transliterated from or to "微信". Somehow, some apps like whatsapp insisted not to have a official Chinese name could be considered as claiming a stance-reflection of superior position.

We could study this trend by only observing the real market of apps - a most significant and hugeeeee market of cyber world. And only be its linguistic strategies, we could tell a lot about its publisher and target users.