Chinese EFL Learners' Comprehension of English Idiom Variants:Effects of Variation Type and Proficiency Level  

中国学习者对英语习语变体的理解——变体类型和英语水平的作用

作　　者：郭夷[1] 

机构地区：[1]复旦大学外文学院

出　　处：《Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics》2014年第4期430-450,539,共22页中国应用语言学（英文）

摘　　要：The creative use of English idioms has led to heterogeneous idiom variants that are particularly problematic for L2 learners. Drawing on a cognitive linguistic perspective of idiom learning, this paper categorizes English idiom variants into four major types, and reports on an empirical study that investigated the effects of variation type and proficiency level on Chinese EFL learners＇ comprehension of English idiom variants. Targeting non-English major college students of basic and intermediate English levels, the study confirmed the influence of proficiency level on learners＇ comprehension and evaluation of the difficulty of idiom variants. Structural change in idioms was found to be the easiest type and idioms modified in terms of literal imagery were the most difficult in comprehension. These findings suggest that the dominant ＂rote memorization＂ tends to limit learners＇ choices of comprehension strategies to literal translation and L1 transfer. The learning environment unsupportive of cultivating L2 learners＇ analytical ability is held accountable for the generally low success rates in comprehension of idiom variants.英语习语在使用中常常产生各种变体形式,这可能对二语学习者的理解造成负面影响。本文以认知语言学理论为框架,将英语习语变体分为四类,并通过实证研究的形式,考察了我国大学本科非英语专业初级和中级英语水平的学习者对不同类型的英语习语变体的理解。结果显示,受试普遍认为英语习语变体理解难度大;外语水平差异对理解结果构成显著正向影响;单维结构变化的习语理解成功率最高,对习语字面场景修饰转换的变体理解成功率最低。本文的结论是:习语变体同语言、文化、认知等多方面因素相关,由于我国外语课堂对英语习语的教学过重采用死记硬背的方法,学生在理解中偏于依靠字面直译、母语迁移等策略,而未养成对习语语义展开推理分析的习惯,导致理解水平总体低下。

关 键 词：English idiom variant variation type proficiency level difficulty of comprehension 

分 类 号：H319.3[语言文字—英语]