What can SLA learn from contrastive corpus linguistics? The case of passive constructions in Chinese learner English
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25170/ijelt.v3i1.1593Keywords:
contrastive analysis, corpus, learner English, passive construction, ChineseAbstract
This article seeks to demonstrate the predictive and diagnostic power of the integrated approach that combines contrastive corpus linguistics with interlanguage analysis in second language acquisition research, via a case study of passive constructions in Chinese learner English. The type of corpora used in contrastive corpus linguistics is first discussed, which is followed by a summary of the findings from a published contrastive study of passive constructions in English and Chinese based on comparable corpora of the two languages. These findings are in turn used to predict and diagnose the performance of Chinese learners of English in their use of English passives as mirrored in a sizeable Chinese learner English corpus in comparison with a comparable native English corpus.
References
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Hartmann, R. 1995. Contrastive textology. Language and Communication 5, 25-37.
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Myles, F. 2005. Interlanguage corpora and second language acquisition research. Second Language Research 21/4, 373-391.
Øverås, S. 1998. In search of the third code: An investigation of norms in literary translation. Meta 43/4.
Pravec, N. 2002. Survey of learner corpora. ICAME Journal 26, 81-114.
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Salkie, R. 1999. ‘How can linguists profit from parallel corpora?’. Paper Presented at the Symposium on Parallel Corpora. 22-23 April 1999, University of Uppsala.
Santos, D. 1996. Tense and aspect in English and portuguese: A contrastive semantical Study. PhD thesis. Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa.
Stubbs, M. 2001. Texts, corpora, and problems of interpretation: A response to Widdowson. Applied Linguistics 22/2, 149-172.
Teubert, W. 1996. Comparable or parallel corpora?. International Journal of Lexicography 9/3, 238-264.
Wang, L. 1984. Zhongguo Jufa Lilun (Syntactic Theories in China). Qingdao: Shandong Education Press.
Xiao, R. 2007. Well-known and influential corpora. In A. Lüdeling and M. Kyto (Eds.), Corpus linguistics: An international handbook. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Xiao, R., McEnery, T. and Qian, Y. 2006. Passive constructions in English and Chinese: A corpus-based contrastive study. Languages in Contrast 6/1.
Baker, M. 1993. ‘Corpus linguistics and translation studies: implications and applications’. In M. Baker, G. Francis and E. Tognini-Bonelli (Eds.), Text and Technology: In honour of John Sinclair (pp. 233-352.). Amsterdam: Benjamins.
Borin, L. and Prütz, K. 2004. ‘New wine in old skins? A corpus investigation of L1 syntactic transfer in learner language’. In G. Aston, S. Bernardini and D. Stewart (Eds.), Corpora and language learners (pp. 67–87). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Fries, C. 1945. Teaching and learning English as a foreign language. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Gellerstam, M. 1986. ‘Translationese in Swedish novels translated from English’. In L. Wollin and H. Lindquist (Eds.), Translation Studies in Scandinavia (pp. 88-95). Lund: CWK Gleerup.
Gellerstam, M. 1996. ‘Translations as a source fro cross-linguistic studies’. In K. Aijmer, B. Altenberg and M. Johansson (Eds.), Language in Contrast (pp. 53-62). Lund: Lund University Press.
Gilquin, G. 2001. ‘The integrated contrastive model. Spicing up your data’. Languages in Contrast 3/1, 95–123.
Granger S. 1976. ‘Why the passive?’. In J. Van Roey (Ed.), English-French Contrastive analyses (pp. 23-57). Leuven: Acco.
Granger, S. 1983. The Be + past participle construction in spoken English with special emphasis on the passive. Amsterdam: North-Holland.
Granger, S. 1996. ‘From CA to CIA and back: An integrated approach to computerised bilingual and learner corpora’. In K. Aijmer, B. Altenberg & M. Johansson (Eds.), Language in contrast (pp. 37-51). Lund: Lund University Press.
Granger, S. 1998. ‘The computer learner corpus: A versatile new source of data for SLA research’. In S. Granger (Ed.), Learner English on computer (pp. 3-18). London: Longman.
Granger, S. 2007. ‘Sylviane Granger: Interview’. Mindbite 1.
Granger, S. & Tyson, S. 1996. Connector usage in the English essay writing of native and non-native speakers of English. World Englishes 15, 19-29.
Gui, S. & Yang, H. 2002. Chinese learner English corpus. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
Hartmann, R. 1995. Contrastive textology. Language and Communication 5, 25-37.
James, C. 1980. Contrastive analysis. London: Longman.
Johansson S. 2003. ‘Contrastive linguistics and corpora’. In S. Granger, J. Lerot and S. Petch-Tyson (Eds.), Corpus-Based Approaches to Contrastive Linguistics and Translation Studies (pp. 31-44). Amsterdam: Rodopi.
Keck, C. 2004. Corpus linguistics and language teaching research: bridging the gap. Language Teaching Research 8/1, 83-109.
Kenny, D. 1998 ‘Creatures of habit? What translators usually do with words?. Meta 43/4.
Lado, R. 1957 Linguistics across cultures: Applied Linguistics for Language Teachers. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Laviosa, S. 1997. ‘How comparable can “comparable corpora” be?’. Target 9, 289-319.
Laviosa, S. 1998. ‘Core patterns of lexical use in a comparable corpus of English narrative prose’. Meta 43/4.
Lü, S. & Zhu, D. 1979. Yufa Xiuci Jianghua (Talks on Grammar and Rhetoric). Beijing: Chinese Youth Press.
Mauranen, A. 2002. ‘Will “translationese” ruin a contrastive study?’. Languages in Contrast 2/2, 161-186.
McEnery, T. & Wilson, A. 2001. Corpus Linguistics (2nd Edition). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
McEnery, T. & Xiao, R. 2002. ‘Domains, text types, aspect marking and English-Chinese translation’. Languages in Contrast 2/2, 211-229.
McEnery, T. & Xiao, R. 2007. ‘Parallel and comparable corpora: What are they up to?’. In G. Anderman (Ed.), Incorporating Corpora: Translation and the Linguist. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
McEnery, T., Xiao, R. & Mo, L. 2003. ‘Aspect marking in English and Chinese: using the Lancaster Corpus of Mandarin Chinese for contrastive language study’. Literary and Linguistic Computing 18/4, 361-378.
McEnery, T., Xiao, R. & Tono, Y. 2006 Corpus-based language studies: An advanced resource book. London: Routledge.
Myles, F. 2005. Interlanguage corpora and second language acquisition research. Second Language Research 21/4, 373-391.
Øverås, S. 1998. In search of the third code: An investigation of norms in literary translation. Meta 43/4.
Pravec, N. 2002. Survey of learner corpora. ICAME Journal 26, 81-114.
Sajavaara, K. 1996. New challenges for contrastive linguistics. In K. Aijmer, B. Altenberg & M. Johansson (Eds.), Language in Contrast (pp. 17-36). Lund: Lund University Press.
Salkie, R. 1999. ‘How can linguists profit from parallel corpora?’. Paper Presented at the Symposium on Parallel Corpora. 22-23 April 1999, University of Uppsala.
Santos, D. 1996. Tense and aspect in English and portuguese: A contrastive semantical Study. PhD thesis. Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa.
Stubbs, M. 2001. Texts, corpora, and problems of interpretation: A response to Widdowson. Applied Linguistics 22/2, 149-172.
Teubert, W. 1996. Comparable or parallel corpora?. International Journal of Lexicography 9/3, 238-264.
Wang, L. 1984. Zhongguo Jufa Lilun (Syntactic Theories in China). Qingdao: Shandong Education Press.
Xiao, R. 2007. Well-known and influential corpora. In A. Lüdeling and M. Kyto (Eds.), Corpus linguistics: An international handbook. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Xiao, R., McEnery, T. and Qian, Y. 2006. Passive constructions in English and Chinese: A corpus-based contrastive study. Languages in Contrast 6/1.
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2007-05-31
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