中美大学生英语议论文中的元话语比较研究

Comparative Analysis of the Metadiscourse Devices in Sino-American College Students’ English Argumentative Compositions

本文对比分析中美大学生英语议论文中元话语使用的异同。研究表明:1)元话语在两组作文中都频繁使用,在总体数量上表现出相似性,使用最多的是篇章标记词;2)在篇章、人际元话语的使用上存在显著差异。中国学生使用连接词、委婉语过多,但态度标记词的使用却较少。作者分析造成这些差异的原因,提出改进课堂作文教学的建议。

The paper investigates the use of metadiscourse devices in the English argumentative compositions written by Chinese college students and American college students. The result shows 1 ） Metadiscourse devices are used frequently in the two kinds of compositions, and very similar frequency is found, and that the metadiscourse device used most often in the two kinds of compositions is textual markers. 2） Significant differences exist in the use of textual metadiscourse and interpersonal metadiscourse devices, and Chinese college students use much more textual markers and significantly less hedges and attitude markers than their American counterparts, possible reasons for which are analyzed. In the end, suggestions for improving classroom composition teaching are proposed.