Interlanguage Fossilization in Chinese EFL Writing --An Empirical Research of 20 English Major Students  

作　　者：ZHANG Hong-wu XIE Jing 

机构地区：[1]Jiaying University, Meizhou, China [2]South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China

出　　处：《Sino-US English Teaching》2014年第4期248-258,共11页中美英语教学（英文版）

摘　　要：This research is designed to investigate interlanguage fossilization in Chinese college students＇ written output. Twelve common linguistic errors from 20 Chinese EFL （English as a foreign language） learners＇ writing assignments are observed. Results show that among 12 typical errors, five types of errors are declining while the rest are increasing, indicating a tendency towards fossilization. Analysis shows that negative/corrective feedback has played a key role in reducing fossilization of some errors, but it does not work in every case. Some errors tend to be fossilized for several reasons. First, language items that do not have a direct form-function relationship are likely to be fossilized. Second, advanced learners create their own language system and neglect the basic rules of grammar. Third, task difficulty takes learners＇ attention away from form to meaning. Fourth, ingrained thinking patterns have a great impact on how learners organize their thoughts in writing. It is true that many Chinese EFL advanced learners reach a plateau in the process of acquiring English. However, attention, consciousness, and training of self-monitoring ability will help destabilize their interlanguage system.

关 键 词：Chinese EFL （English as a foreign language） learners INTERLANGUAGE stabilization FOSSILIZATION 

分 类 号：TE687[石油与天然气工程—油气加工工程] G641[文化科学—高等教育学]