Abstract
The current study, built on the usage-based approach to language, investigated frequency effects in Chinese learners’ acquisition of English articles. We carried out type and token frequency analysis of article usages in academic written essays sourced from a written English corpus of Chinese learners. We adopted an existing usage-based article cue coding scheme, which allowed us to implement a refined frequency analysis of all form-function mappings in learner texts. Our findings suggested that learners’ article usage follows the Zipfian distribution in terms of token frequency. Learners show a heavier reliance on a very limited number of high-frequency cues than native speakers. Non-definites (indefinite article and zero article) outnumber definite articles in terms of token and type frequency in learner texts. Yet definite articles show a significantly higher type/token ratio than non-definites, suggesting that learners develop a more complex and heterogeneous profile of definite article usage. We argue for more research and pedagogical attention to frequency and complexity effects in the acquisition of articles.
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Appendix
Appendix
Essay Topics in the Learner Corpus Sample
No | Topics |
|---|---|
1 | Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler? Write an essay to state your own opinion. |
2 | Education is expensive, but the consequences of a failure to educate, especially in an increasingly globalized world, are even more expensive. Write an essay to state your own opinion. |
3 | Some people think that famous people are treated unfairly by the media, and they should be given more privacy, while some others think that this is the price of their fame. |
4 | Some people say the government shouldn’t put money on building theatres and sports stadiums; they should spend more money on medical care and education. Do you agree or disagree? State the reasons for your view. |
5 | Some people think that university education is to prepare students for employment. Others think that it has other functions. Discuss and say what other functions you think it should have. |
6 | Which skill of English is more important for Chinese learners? Some people think that we should give priority to reading in English, while others think speaking is more important. Write an essay to state your own opinion. |
7 | Some people think that children should learn to compete, but others think that children should be taught to cooperate. Express some reasons of both views and give your own opinion. |
8 | Will modern technology, such as the internet ever replace the book or the written word as the main source of information? Write an essay to state your opinion. |
9 | Nowadays, more and more college students rent apartments and live outside campus. Is it appropriate? State your opinion about this. |
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Zhao, H., Shirai, Y. (2022). Frequency Effects in Chinese Learners’ Acquisition of the English Article Construction. In: Chan, M., Benati, A.G. (eds) Challenges Encountered by Chinese ESL Learners. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5332-2_10
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