A Markedness Differential Approach Towards the Acquisition of English Locative Inversion for Chinese L2 Learners

DOI

10.2991/assehr.k.220131.088How to use a DOI?

Keywords

locative inversion; markedness; English learners

Abstract

The research is an exploration of Chinese ESL learners using locative inversion from the perspective of “markedness”. The participants were demanded to translate sentences in Chinese to English, all of which can be translated to either sentences using locative inversion or canonical order. The results show that Chinese learners can use locative inversion correctly and more often, which is contrary to the prediction of Markedness Differential Hypothesis that the more marked structure in target language will be difficult to learn. It is due to the influence of Chinese, which makes it easy for them to understand and use locative inversion in English. However, it is still necessary to master specific grammar rules in order to use it properly. The paper suggests that an unmarked feature in L1 can transfer to L2, though it is marked in L2. However, to fully master the structure in L2 requires efforts.

Copyright

© 2022 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.

Open Access

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Luyi Song
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/02/01
TI  - A Markedness Differential Approach Towards the Acquisition of English Locative Inversion for Chinese L2 Learners
BT  - Proceedings of the 2021 International Conference on Education, Language and Art (ICELA 2021)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 481
EP  - 486
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220131.088
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.220131.088
ID  - Song2022
ER  -