“This” or “one” but not “the” or “a” : article

replacement by Chinese studentsBy: January Forsthoefel

Topic Area

Second language acquisitionSecond language acquisition

lexical transferlexical transfer

Background/Justification

It is well known that the Chinese language does not have It is well known that the Chinese language does not have functional equivalents of the English definite and indefinite functional equivalents of the English definite and indefinite articles. articles.

in order to fulfill the article position, many Chinese in order to fulfill the article position, many Chinese students choose to use “this” instead of “the”, “one” in students choose to use “this” instead of “the”, “one” in stead of “a” before NPstead of “a” before NP

one part of lexical transfer in L2 acquisition process. one part of lexical transfer in L2 acquisition process.

References

Jarvis, S. (2002). Topic continuity in L2 English article use. Studies of Jarvis, S. (2002). Topic continuity in L2 English article use. Studies of Second Language Acquisition, 24, 387-418.Second Language Acquisition, 24, 387-418.

Shi, D. (2000). Topic ad topic-comment constructions in mandarin Chinese. Shi, D. (2000). Topic ad topic-comment constructions in mandarin Chinese. Language, 76(2), 383-408.Language, 76(2), 383-408.

Parrish, B. (1987). A new look at methodologies in the study of article Parrish, B. (1987). A new look at methodologies in the study of article acquisition for learners of ESL. Language Learning, 37(3), 361-383.acquisition for learners of ESL. Language Learning, 37(3), 361-383.

Robertson, D. (2000). Variability in the used of the English article system Robertson, D. (2000). Variability in the used of the English article system by Chinese learners of English. Second Language Research, 16(2), 135-by Chinese learners of English. Second Language Research, 16(2), 135-172.172.

Young, R. (1995). Form-function relations in articles in English Young, R. (1995). Form-function relations in articles in English interlanguage. In R. Barley & D. Preston (Eds.), Second language interlanguage. In R. Barley & D. Preston (Eds.), Second language acquisition and linguistic variation (pp. 135-175). Benjamins: Amsterdam.acquisition and linguistic variation (pp. 135-175). Benjamins: Amsterdam.

Research Questions

How often do Chinese students use How often do Chinese students use demonstratives instead of definite article?demonstratives instead of definite article?

How often do Chinese use numerals instead of How often do Chinese use numerals instead of indefinite article?indefinite article?

When do they make demonstratives?When do they make demonstratives?

METHODOLOGY

Participants:Participants:

40 Chinese EFL learners. 3 years of English 40 Chinese EFL learners. 3 years of English learning learning

40 Chinese EFL learners. 5 years of English 40 Chinese EFL learners. 5 years of English learninglearning

Methodology

Procedure:Procedure: give students 40 mins to write the story “the give students 40 mins to write the story “the

snow white and the seven dwarfs” in English, snow white and the seven dwarfs” in English, starts with “once upon a time,…..”.starts with “once upon a time,…..”.

Collect the writing samples and diagnose the Collect the writing samples and diagnose the articles errors.articles errors.

Compare the article omission with using Compare the article omission with using demonstratives and numerals instead of articles.demonstratives and numerals instead of articles.

Categorize the use of demonstratives and Categorize the use of demonstratives and numerals.numerals.

Analysis

Quantatitive AnalysisQuantatitive Analysis

Table data comparison. Table data comparison.

Expected Findings

Besides omitting articles, students prefer Besides omitting articles, students prefer demonstratives and numerals rather than articles when demonstratives and numerals rather than articles when articles are needed in their L2 production.articles are needed in their L2 production.

With higher L2 proficiency, students tend to use more With higher L2 proficiency, students tend to use more numerals in stead of demonstratives in article error numerals in stead of demonstratives in article error production.production.

Anticipated Problems/Limitation of

StudyThe topic given to participants is not suitable enough to The topic given to participants is not suitable enough to test their proficiency of article mastery in L2 Englishtest their proficiency of article mastery in L2 English

Limited written samples, which are not sufficient to Limited written samples, which are not sufficient to account for quantitative data base. account for quantitative data base.

Articles are too controversial in English language. Articles are too controversial in English language.