英语中介语词汇变异分析

A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Lexical Variation in English Interlanguage

已有的研究发现以汉语为母语的英语学习者在英语写作中呈现某些词汇选用上的性别差异,年轻的女大学生在自指时较多使用"girl"而尽量避免使用"woman";同年龄的男大学生则较多使用"man"而较少使用"boy";后来的研究在较宽年龄段的成年人当中验证这一性别差异的趋势时发现了复杂的情况。本研究对有关成年人中介语语料库进行了进一步的分析,发现年龄和婚姻状况都是重要的制约条件,但自指名词选用上的性别差异仍然存在。这些发现是从社会语言学视角对中介语语料进行分析的结果,一方面拓展了语言变异的研究,另一方面也增进了对二语习得作为一个社会心理过程的认识。

Previous studies found gender differences in the use of some English words by Chinese students: young female university students tend to use 'girl' in self-reference and avoid using 'woman' while male university students of the same age use 'man' more often than 'boy' in the same context. In the present study, the speaker sample consists of male and female schoolteachers aged from 23 to 51. The study found both age and marital status are important constraints, but the previously-found gender bias in the usage of self-referent nouns persists. These findings expand the studies of language variation and enhance the understanding of second language acquisition as a socio-psychological process.