As one of the most important features of natural language, the ambiguity of the language has aroused widespread attention in the early Western scholars. Today, the growing number of experts, scholars have committed sy...As one of the most important features of natural language, the ambiguity of the language has aroused widespread attention in the early Western scholars. Today, the growing number of experts, scholars have committed systematic exploration and research of vague language, and thus producing the fuzzy edge between discipline and linguistics —— Fuzzy Linguistics. Looking at the current fuzzy linguistics research, we can broadly divide it from the research point of view, into semantic ambiguity, pragmatic vagueness, syntactic blur, discourse vague and other directions. Undoubtedly, these types of studies approach from different angles can inevitably produces a cross, which is based on the analysis of the vague language to explore pragmatic functions as this paper.展开更多
This paper reviews key constructs explored in this special issue of Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics, including autonomy, agency and identity in foreign/second language education. We first explore and compare, i...This paper reviews key constructs explored in this special issue of Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics, including autonomy, agency and identity in foreign/second language education. We first explore and compare, in relatively greater depth, the complex meanings of the two similar concepts of autonomy and agency. In discussing autonomy, we start with an analysis of the meaning of capacity and control in Benson＇s （2011） broad definition of autonomy as a capacity to take control of one＇s own learning, and briefly look at related issues of learner agendas and affordances. Based on a close scrutiny of the concept of agency, we propose that autonomy and agency are best treated as distinct concepts in terms of the degree of effective control over the learning-teaching process. Following a dose examination of the two similar concepts of autonomy and agency, we discuss the concept of identity and finally the interrelatedness among these major concepts of autonomy, agency, and identity in language education.展开更多
This paper contests the notion that language learner autonomy is a monolithic construct, by offering evidence that learner autonomy （LA） is comprised of different ＂modes of autonomy＂. Thirty language learners base...This paper contests the notion that language learner autonomy is a monolithic construct, by offering evidence that learner autonomy （LA） is comprised of different ＂modes of autonomy＂. Thirty language learners based in Asia and the UK, completed a Q methodology card sort and were interviewed on how learning in an autonomous environment had impacted upon their development as learners. The results indicated that at least six modes of autonomy were identifiable within these language learners. Further analysis showed that social dimensions of autonomy were central to each mode, and thus reconceptualizing LA in this way allows for multiple understandings of the construct which are culturally rooted and embedded in sociocultural notions of what it means to be a language learner.展开更多
文摘As one of the most important features of natural language, the ambiguity of the language has aroused widespread attention in the early Western scholars. Today, the growing number of experts, scholars have committed systematic exploration and research of vague language, and thus producing the fuzzy edge between discipline and linguistics —— Fuzzy Linguistics. Looking at the current fuzzy linguistics research, we can broadly divide it from the research point of view, into semantic ambiguity, pragmatic vagueness, syntactic blur, discourse vague and other directions. Undoubtedly, these types of studies approach from different angles can inevitably produces a cross, which is based on the analysis of the vague language to explore pragmatic functions as this paper.
文摘This paper reviews key constructs explored in this special issue of Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics, including autonomy, agency and identity in foreign/second language education. We first explore and compare, in relatively greater depth, the complex meanings of the two similar concepts of autonomy and agency. In discussing autonomy, we start with an analysis of the meaning of capacity and control in Benson＇s （2011） broad definition of autonomy as a capacity to take control of one＇s own learning, and briefly look at related issues of learner agendas and affordances. Based on a close scrutiny of the concept of agency, we propose that autonomy and agency are best treated as distinct concepts in terms of the degree of effective control over the learning-teaching process. Following a dose examination of the two similar concepts of autonomy and agency, we discuss the concept of identity and finally the interrelatedness among these major concepts of autonomy, agency, and identity in language education.
文摘This paper contests the notion that language learner autonomy is a monolithic construct, by offering evidence that learner autonomy （LA） is comprised of different ＂modes of autonomy＂. Thirty language learners based in Asia and the UK, completed a Q methodology card sort and were interviewed on how learning in an autonomous environment had impacted upon their development as learners. The results indicated that at least six modes of autonomy were identifiable within these language learners. Further analysis showed that social dimensions of autonomy were central to each mode, and thus reconceptualizing LA in this way allows for multiple understandings of the construct which are culturally rooted and embedded in sociocultural notions of what it means to be a language learner.
