Language and culture are closely related to each other. Euphemisms, which exist in all languages, reflect certain culture from which the language derives. Paying special attention to cross cultural communication, this...Language and culture are closely related to each other. Euphemisms, which exist in all languages, reflect certain culture from which the language derives. Paying special attention to cross cultural communication, this paper discusses the relationship between euphemism and culture. Pointing out the necessity of learning and teaching euphemisms, the author also proposes some suggestions on how to teach euphemism.展开更多
This study explored the distribution of three types of English formulaic language, which involves four categories in L1 Chinese L2 English learners’ speaking performance. In addition, it investigated the relationship...This study explored the distribution of three types of English formulaic language, which involves four categories in L1 Chinese L2 English learners’ speaking performance. In addition, it investigated the relationship between the English learners’ use of formulaic language and their spoken English fluency. A CCA(canonical correlation analysis) was conducted to examine the correlations between two sets of fluency variables(dependent variables) and linguistic variables of English formulaic language use(independent variables). The fluency variable set consists of:(1)temporal indices such as SR(speech rate), AR(articulation rate), MLR(mean length of run), and PTR(phonation time ratio);(2) linguistic variables of English formulaic language like F2 R(twoword formulaic sequences/run ratio, B3 R(three-word lexical bundles/run ratio), and B4 R(fourword lexical bundles/run ratio). These are calculated according to the frequency of the English formulaic language in the speech samples of the participants(n = 86) across three academic levels.The results indicate that the learners’ spoken English fluency is highly related to their use of English formulaic language. Its limitations and future research directions are also discussed.展开更多
This article discusses the result of cognitive deviation originating from the lexical and syntactic difference between English and Chinese. By analyzing three different aspects involved in this paper, namely, syntheti...This article discusses the result of cognitive deviation originating from the lexical and syntactic difference between English and Chinese. By analyzing three different aspects involved in this paper, namely, synthetic versus analytic, compact versus diffusive and hypotactic versus paratactic deviations, a conclusion can be drawn that consciousness of necessary information qualifies a translator for work only when he is familiar with this kind of cognitive deviation.展开更多
Chinese transfer plays an important role in the teaching and learning of English grammar. Though there are many differences between English and Chinese, many rules are shared by English and Chinese, especially in term...Chinese transfer plays an important role in the teaching and learning of English grammar. Though there are many differences between English and Chinese, many rules are shared by English and Chinese, especially in terms of grammar. Therefore, in teaching of English grammar, proper use of transfer of Chinese grammar may help the learners learn English. This paper introduces Chinese positive transfer and negative transfer in learning English grammar, and discusses how to make use of Chinese transfer to improve English teaching.展开更多
This paper attempts to explore the functional divergence of LD （Left Dislocation） in English and Chinese. Through detailed analyzing, we find that LD in both languages shares only one function, the function of simpl...This paper attempts to explore the functional divergence of LD （Left Dislocation） in English and Chinese. Through detailed analyzing, we find that LD in both languages shares only one function, the function of simplifying, but it is different in other functions and there are eight more functions in Chinese than in English. The interface study of LD in the two languages leads to the implications： The connections between syntactic form and discourse function are language-specific and arbitrary, and LD serves a wide variety of discourse functions and is motivated by a range of discourse circumstances展开更多
Based on the cognitive view of metonymy and taking some ＂head＂ expressions in English and Chinese as corpora, this paper makes a qualitative analysis and tries to find out the causes for the similarities and discrep...Based on the cognitive view of metonymy and taking some ＂head＂ expressions in English and Chinese as corpora, this paper makes a qualitative analysis and tries to find out the causes for the similarities and discrepancies between these ＂head＂ metonymies.展开更多
The study investigates: (1) how different idiom types, classified on the basis of a cross-linguistic comparison of Chinese and English idioms in terms of conceptual basis, affect English idiom comprehension as reveale...The study investigates: (1) how different idiom types, classified on the basis of a cross-linguistic comparison of Chinese and English idioms in terms of conceptual basis, affect English idiom comprehension as revealed from both the general performance and the on-line processing strategies adopted by Chinese EFL learners at different proficiency levels, and (2) to what extent can the observed learner behavior be accounted for within the theoretical framework of idiom comprehension. The study has provided empirical evidence for the configuration hypothesis of idiom comprehension.展开更多
This paper presents a study exploring the efficacy of Wikis in an online language exchange program involving a purposeful sample of university students from China and the UK. The article first provides a brief overvie...This paper presents a study exploring the efficacy of Wikis in an online language exchange program involving a purposeful sample of university students from China and the UK. The article first provides a brief overview of the use of Web 2.0 applications in language education. It then specifically addresses the potential advantages of using Wikispaces in second language acquisition, particularly in tasks designed for the purpose of collaborative learning. Research methods employed in the study included questionnaire, interview and analysis of textual input on Wikis. Participants were students from two partner universities in China and the UK, who communicated with each other in English and Chinese to discuss curriculum-based topics posted to the China-UK Wikispaces. The results demonstrate that tasks designed for Wikis offer students constructive opportunities to communicate with each other and develop their language proficiencies. The findings also indicate that the informed involvement of language tutors in selecting topics and designing tasks is instrumental in effectively facilitating and further enhancing students＇ experiences of collaborative learning on Wikis.展开更多
This paper presents an empirical study of the acquisition of English ambiguous verb-locative prepositional phrase constructions （VLPPs） by adult Mandarin and Spanish speakers. This study assumes that the semantic pr...This paper presents an empirical study of the acquisition of English ambiguous verb-locative prepositional phrase constructions （VLPPs） by adult Mandarin and Spanish speakers. This study assumes that the semantic properties of the target VLPPs that relate to change-of-location in sentences such as The boat floated under the bridge arise from an uninterpretable syntactic feature selected by English but unselected by Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Results obtained from an animated cartoon selection task indicate that neither the Mandarin nor the Spanish speakers at any level of English proficiency possess native-like interpretative knowledge. Tense/ Aspect effects on the interpretation of the target constructions by Spanish speakers were also found. These results are interpreted as consistent with the Representational Deficit Hypothesis view （Hawkins, 2003, 2005） of adult second language acquisition.展开更多
文摘Language and culture are closely related to each other. Euphemisms, which exist in all languages, reflect certain culture from which the language derives. Paying special attention to cross cultural communication, this paper discusses the relationship between euphemism and culture. Pointing out the necessity of learning and teaching euphemisms, the author also proposes some suggestions on how to teach euphemism.
文摘This study explored the distribution of three types of English formulaic language, which involves four categories in L1 Chinese L2 English learners’ speaking performance. In addition, it investigated the relationship between the English learners’ use of formulaic language and their spoken English fluency. A CCA(canonical correlation analysis) was conducted to examine the correlations between two sets of fluency variables(dependent variables) and linguistic variables of English formulaic language use(independent variables). The fluency variable set consists of:(1)temporal indices such as SR(speech rate), AR(articulation rate), MLR(mean length of run), and PTR(phonation time ratio);(2) linguistic variables of English formulaic language like F2 R(twoword formulaic sequences/run ratio, B3 R(three-word lexical bundles/run ratio), and B4 R(fourword lexical bundles/run ratio). These are calculated according to the frequency of the English formulaic language in the speech samples of the participants(n = 86) across three academic levels.The results indicate that the learners’ spoken English fluency is highly related to their use of English formulaic language. Its limitations and future research directions are also discussed.
基金This work was supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation （No. 08BYY046）.
文摘This article discusses the result of cognitive deviation originating from the lexical and syntactic difference between English and Chinese. By analyzing three different aspects involved in this paper, namely, synthetic versus analytic, compact versus diffusive and hypotactic versus paratactic deviations, a conclusion can be drawn that consciousness of necessary information qualifies a translator for work only when he is familiar with this kind of cognitive deviation.
文摘Chinese transfer plays an important role in the teaching and learning of English grammar. Though there are many differences between English and Chinese, many rules are shared by English and Chinese, especially in terms of grammar. Therefore, in teaching of English grammar, proper use of transfer of Chinese grammar may help the learners learn English. This paper introduces Chinese positive transfer and negative transfer in learning English grammar, and discusses how to make use of Chinese transfer to improve English teaching.
文摘This paper attempts to explore the functional divergence of LD （Left Dislocation） in English and Chinese. Through detailed analyzing, we find that LD in both languages shares only one function, the function of simplifying, but it is different in other functions and there are eight more functions in Chinese than in English. The interface study of LD in the two languages leads to the implications： The connections between syntactic form and discourse function are language-specific and arbitrary, and LD serves a wide variety of discourse functions and is motivated by a range of discourse circumstances
文摘Based on the cognitive view of metonymy and taking some ＂head＂ expressions in English and Chinese as corpora, this paper makes a qualitative analysis and tries to find out the causes for the similarities and discrepancies between these ＂head＂ metonymies.
文摘The study investigates: (1) how different idiom types, classified on the basis of a cross-linguistic comparison of Chinese and English idioms in terms of conceptual basis, affect English idiom comprehension as revealed from both the general performance and the on-line processing strategies adopted by Chinese EFL learners at different proficiency levels, and (2) to what extent can the observed learner behavior be accounted for within the theoretical framework of idiom comprehension. The study has provided empirical evidence for the configuration hypothesis of idiom comprehension.
基金part of a provincial key project of Jiangsu,"The 11th Five-Year Plan" of the Scientific Education Program dating 2009 to 2011 (project number:B-b/2009/01/043)
文摘This paper presents a study exploring the efficacy of Wikis in an online language exchange program involving a purposeful sample of university students from China and the UK. The article first provides a brief overview of the use of Web 2.0 applications in language education. It then specifically addresses the potential advantages of using Wikispaces in second language acquisition, particularly in tasks designed for the purpose of collaborative learning. Research methods employed in the study included questionnaire, interview and analysis of textual input on Wikis. Participants were students from two partner universities in China and the UK, who communicated with each other in English and Chinese to discuss curriculum-based topics posted to the China-UK Wikispaces. The results demonstrate that tasks designed for Wikis offer students constructive opportunities to communicate with each other and develop their language proficiencies. The findings also indicate that the informed involvement of language tutors in selecting topics and designing tasks is instrumental in effectively facilitating and further enhancing students＇ experiences of collaborative learning on Wikis.
文摘This paper presents an empirical study of the acquisition of English ambiguous verb-locative prepositional phrase constructions （VLPPs） by adult Mandarin and Spanish speakers. This study assumes that the semantic properties of the target VLPPs that relate to change-of-location in sentences such as The boat floated under the bridge arise from an uninterpretable syntactic feature selected by English but unselected by Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Results obtained from an animated cartoon selection task indicate that neither the Mandarin nor the Spanish speakers at any level of English proficiency possess native-like interpretative knowledge. Tense/ Aspect effects on the interpretation of the target constructions by Spanish speakers were also found. These results are interpreted as consistent with the Representational Deficit Hypothesis view （Hawkins, 2003, 2005） of adult second language acquisition.
