基于语料库的中学英语学习者写作句法复杂性变化研究

A corpus-based Study on the Syntactic Complexity of English Writing by Chinese Middle School English Learners

本研究基于英语学习者写作语料库(WCEL),探讨中学英语学习者书面语句法复杂性及其变化趋势。调查的指标包括单位长度(W/T、W/C)、单位密度(C/T、DC/C)、独立子句、从句、非限定动词和被动句。研究发现,中学英语学习者的各项长度指标和密度指标大多随着年级和写作水平的上升而呈现出线性增长的趋势,简单句的使用频率高于从句。各类从句中,学习者对状语、宾语和定语从句掌握得相对更好,使用频率也更高。各类从句、非限定动词中的动名词、过去分词、现在分词以及限定性被动形式的使用频率与年级和写作水平的变化方向相同。根据研究结论,为中学英语教材研发和课堂教学提出几点启示。

Based on the Writing Corpus of English Learners,this study explores the syntactic complexity of English writings by Chinese middle school English learners.The syntactic complexity is measured by the length of T units（W/T）and clauses（W/C）,T-unit ratio（C/T）and dependent clause ratio（DC/C）,independent and dependent clauses,non-finite verbs and passive structures.The results reveal that the length and embeddedness measures increase in line with their grades and English writing proficiency.Simple sentences are used more frequently than clauses.The frequency of adverbial,attributive and object clauses is used higher than other kinds of clauses in the writings.The use of all kinds of clauses,gerunds,past participles,present participles and passive voice in finite clauses change in the same direction with grades and writing proficiency.Based upon the findings,implications are provided for English textbook development and English pedagogical practices.