英语二语中汉语wh⁃词特征的习得与习失

The Acquisition and Unlearning of the Features of Chinese Wh⁃words in L2 English

本研究通过汉⁃英单句翻译考察了中国英语学习者对汉语wh⁃词所包含的[wh]特征和[uNV]特征在英语中的习得和习失。结果显示,中国英语学习者能够将[wh]特征映射到英语wh⁃词中,将[uNV]特征映射到英语不定代词中,说明他们能够习失汉语wh⁃词的[uNV]特征。研究结果表明,在二语习得过程中,特征的映射源于对等的语义和功能而非基于相似的形态。由于[wh]特征和[uNV]特征的不同表征环境在汉语语法中存在不对称性,部分表征环境容易造成中国英语学习者对母语wh⁃词的错误解读和错误翻译。

Using a Chinese⁃English sentence translation task,this article investigated the acquisition and unlearning of the[wh]feature and the[uNV]feature in L2 English,which are both componential features of Chinese wh⁃words.Results show that Chinese EFL learners could map the[wh]feature onto English wh⁃words,and the[uNV]feature onto English existential polarity words.They could unlearn the[uNV]feature of Chinese wh⁃words used as existential polarity words.The results indicate that feature mapping in L2 acquisition is based on semantic and functional similarity rather than morphological similarity.As the conditioning environments for the expression of the[wh]feature and the[uNV]feature are asymmetric in Chinese grammar,some of them are prone to cause Chinese EFL learners to misinterpret wh⁃words in their mother tongue and to translate them incorrectly.