国内外语界工作记忆与第二语言习得关系研究20年

Working Memory and Second Language Acquisition: A Review of Studies in the Past 20 Years in Foreign Language Field in China

工作记忆是第二语言习得研究中的一个重要因素。本文基于国内13种外语类核心期刊近20年(1996—2015)发表的工作记忆与第二语言习得关系研究论文的统计和分析,对国内外语界工作记忆与第二语言习得研究的现状进行了系统化的梳理和归纳。就研究方法来说,可划分为两个阶段:1996—2007年主要以理论介绍、引进以及文献综述为主;2008—2015年主要将西方理论与中国英语学习者的实际情况结合,运用定量研究和定性研究的方法探讨工作记忆与第二语言习得的关系。就研究内容来说,主要从第二语言理解、产出和理解产出一体3个维度对工作记忆与第二语言习得的关系进行研究,涉及工作记忆与词汇习得、语法/句法习得、阅读/篇章/句子理解、听力理解等7个方面。纵观这些研究,我们发现了一些不足,并提出了该领域未来研究的展望,以期对今后该领域内的研究有所启示。

Working memory is an important factor in second language acquisition. Based on statistical analysis of the published papers in 13 core journals in the foreign language field in recent twenty years from 1996 to 2015 in China, the present paper reviews the studies of the relationship between working memory and second language acquisition. In terms of research methodology, these studies can be divided into two periods. From 1996 to 2007, researchers in the foreign language field in China mainly introduced the Western theories related to working memory and second language acquisition into China or published papers of relevant literature reviews; and from 2008 to 2015, quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted to investigate the relationship between working memory and language acquisition by combining the Western theories with the actual situation of Chinese EFL learners. In terms of research topics, seven topics such as the relationship between working memory and lexical acquisition, between working memory and grammatical or syntactic acquisition, between working memory and reading comprehension, and between working memory and listening comprehension, etc. are investigated from perspectives of second language comprehension, second language production and the combination of both modes. Based on the previous studies, several shortcomings in the present status are discussed, and the research trends are also provided to shed light on future studies in the field.