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An Empirical Study on L1 Transfer in Learning L2 Collocations of Mental Lexicon

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Online published: 2020-07-25

Abstract

Based on the theory of bilingual mental lexicon, this paper aims to investigate the Chinese EFL learners' acquisition of L2 collocations and examine the effect of L1 transfer, L2 proficiency, and collocation patterns on their collocation acquisition. An instant collocation decision test was employed, consisting of congruent collocations (positive transfer) and non congruent ones (sub divided into L1 specific and L2 specific, i.e. negative transfer and non transfer). All the collocations fall into two parts: V N and A/N N. The findings show that all the three variables have main effects, but with no interactions. Both groups have similar tendency: V N>A/N N; non transfer > positive transfer > negative transfer. Except for non transfer collocation, the high level group performed better than the low level group.

Cite this article

PENG Chen, WANG Tongshun . An Empirical Study on L1 Transfer in Learning L2 Collocations of Mental Lexicon[J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2016 , 16(04) : 34 -38 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2016.04.003

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