《量表》参照下不同水平英语二语学习者使用连接状语的语言特征

Discourse Features of Texts Across Different Proficiency Levels of CSE:Taking Linking Adverbials as an Example

连接状语是一种常见且重要的英语语篇衔接手段,但以往研究对不同水平学习者在连接状语方面的区别性语言特征关注较少。参照《中国英语能力等级量表》(以下简称《量表》或CSE)对学习者水平进行区分,考查不同水平学习者的议论文语料在连接状语方面的区别性语言特征。结果显示:总体而言,CSE5级水平学习者在议论文中使用连接状语的频率明显低于CSE6级水平学习者和CSE7级水平学习者,但CSE6级水平学习者和CSE7级水平学习者的连接状语使用频率不存在显著差异。就不同类型的连接状语而言,添加、转折、因果连接状语的使用频率不受学习者语言水平的影响,不同水平学习者连接状语使用的差异主要表现在顺序连接状语方面。结果表明:连接状语这类显化衔接手段是区分中国中级和中高级水平英语学习者语篇能力的指标,但不能区分中高级和高级水平学习者;高频使用顺序连接状语是中国英语学习者的中介语特质。本研究为中国高校英语写作教学、考试和作文评分提供了启示。

Linking adverbials are common and important cohesive devices in English discourse, but previous studies have paid little attention to their use as criterial discourse features across different proficiency levels.This study employed China’s Standards of English Language Ability(CSE)to evaluate argumentative essays in learner corpus and explored the criterial linguistic features of linking adverbials across different proficiency levels. Results showed that, in general, CSE5 learners used linking adverbials less frequently than CSE6 and CSE7 learners in argumentative essays, but no significant difference was identified between CSE6 and CSE7learners. As for the different types of linking adverbials, the frequencies of additive, adversative, and causal/resultative linking adverbials were not significantly influenced by learners’ English proficiency levels. The differences in linking adverbials usage between learners at different levels were mainly demonstrated in using sequential linking adverbials. These results suggest that linking adverbials, the explicit cohesive device, are indicators of discourse proficiency for the intermediate and intermediate-advanced levels of Chinese English learners but not for the intermediate-advanced and advanced levels of learners. High frequent use of sequential linking adverbials might be the interlanguage features of Chinese English learners. The findings provide implications for the teaching and assessment of English writing and the evaluation of English compositions in Chinese universities.