宁波理工学院
毕业设计（论文）
题
目 词块对第二语言习得的作用
姓
名
学
号
专业班级
指导教师
分
院
完成日期
何小红
3090111111
2009 级英语 5 班
朱 伟
外国语分院
2013 年 5 月 10 日
The Role of Lexical Chunks in Second Language Acquisition
By
He Jiaolong
Student Number: 3090111111
Supervisor: Zhu Wei
A Thesis
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirement for the Degree of
Bachelor of Arts in the School of Foreign Language Studies,
Ningbo Institute of Technology, Zhejiang University
May 10, 2013
Abstract
From the view of traditional pedagogy, language acquisition is the mastering of
grammar and accumulation of individual word, while the vocabulary has been seen as
peripheral to language acquisition. ... …
Being a major factor in the depth of vocabulary knowledge, lexical chunks have
come to linguistic attention in language teaching and learning in recent years. … ...
... …
Keywords: lexical approach; lexical chunks; L2 acquisition
摘要
依据传统教学法，语言学习被认为是对语言规则的掌握和单词的积累，而词
语在语言中的重要作用却被严重忽视。……
随着对其研究的深入，词块在语言教学中愈加受到关注。……
……
关键词：词汇法；词块；第二语言习得
Contents
1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Research Background ........................................................................................... 1
1.2 Research Purpose ................................................................................................. 2
2 The Lexical Approach ................................................................................................................ 2
2.1 Lewis’ Lexical Approach ...................................................................................... 2
2.2 Nattinger & DeCarrico’s Lexical Approach ......................................................... 2
3 The Basic Concepts of Lexical Chunks ............................................................................... 2
3.1 Definitions of Lexical Chunks.............................................................................. 2
3.2 Classifications of Lexical Chunks ........................................................................ 2
3.3 Functions of Lexical Chunks ................................................................................ 2
4 The Role of Lexical Chunks in L2 Acquisition................................................................. 2
4.1 Lexical Chunks and Output Fluency .................................................................... 8
4.2 Lexical Chunks and Native-like Selection ........................................................... 8
4.3 Lexical Chunks and Pragmatic Consciousness .................................................... 8
4.4 Lexical Chunks and Learning Motivation ............................................................ 8
5 Conclusion....................................................................................................................................... 9
References .................................................................................................................................. 10
Appendix....................................................................................................................................... 11
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... 12
The Role of Lexical Chunks in Second Language Acquisition
1 Introduction
1.1 Research Background
In the field of EFL teaching, increasing attention has been paid to vocabulary
teaching and learning since 1970s. … …
However, vocabulary has been traditionally thought as individual words and seen
as peripheral to language acquisition. … …
Although studies on lexical chunks have gained growing favor abroad, it remains
a novelty in China. Up till now, researches carried out concerning the effect of lexical
chunks on language acquisition is till rare in China. The main reason is that in China,
grammar structure is still emphasized in English teaching, while the Communicative
Approach is enjoying the popularity. A lot of teachers have not paid special attention
to lexical chunks, let alone the students. Conscious awareness of the lexical nature of
language should be raised in both teachers and students
Widdowson has found that the most common form of vocabulary in the authentic
language situation is lexical chunk[1]. Pawley and Syder also considers these fixed or
semi-fixed prefabricated language structures as the minimal unit for language
communication[2]. Weinert proposes that Lexical Approach is a compromise, which
not only emphasizes grammatical structure but also highlights fluent communication
as well[3].
...
... Grammar, as the generative rules, has been recognized for a long time as a
frame of a language, which is the center of a language and has the power of
generation[4]. Emerged in 1970s, Communicative Approach argues that language may
be learned as a tool for communication, not as an academic subject focused on
grammar. It attaches much importance to success of communication[5]. But the
Communicative Approach has its disadvantage, just as Widdowson argues that the
Structural Approach accounts for one aspect of competence by concentrating on
analysis but does so at the expense of access, whereas Communicative Approach
concentrates on access to the relative neglect of analysis[1].
Findings in children’s natural language acquisition indicate that children acquire
their native language with a considerable quantity of lexical chunks [6]. … From the
1
The Role of Lexical Chunks in Second Language Acquisition
view of Lewis, “the grammar and vocabulary dichotomy is invalid for language”[7]. ...
In their book Lexical Phrases and Language Teaching, Nattinger and DeCarrico
present their teaching approach applying lexical chunks, which are described as a
multi-word lexical phenomenon. They believe that the “Lexical Approach avoids the
shortcomings of relying too heavily on either theories of linguistic competence on the
one hand, or theories of communicative competence on the other” [8].
…
…
1.2 Research Purpose
Lexical chunks are the essential content and ideal units for language teaching. ...
… The thesis tries to convey the significant role of lexical chunks in L2
acquisition, hoping that it could do some help to raise the awareness of lexical chunks
for both teachers and students.
2 The Lexical Approach
2.1 Lewis’ Lexical Approach
...
…
Michael Lewis proposed the Lexical Approach in his book of The Lexical
Approach in 1993. … The central idea behind the Lexical Approach is stated
immediately in the book – “language consists of grammaticalized lexis, not
lexicalized grammar” [9]. The lexis here refers to the concept “lexical chunks”, which
comprises the core of Lexical Approach.
...
…
2.2 Nattinger & DeCarrico
……
3 The Basic Concepts of Lexical Chunks
3.1 Definitions of Lexical Chunks
... Luo, Liang and Lu have mentioned that a chunk is a prefabricated and
frequently used collection of words, which is rather stable in meaning [10]. ...
2
The Role of Lexical Chunks in Second Language Acquisition
According to Jespersen, lexical chunks are “a cover term for ready-made
constructions which can be used without having to be built up from scratch” [11]. …
The role of lexical chunks in language acquisition is much highlighted, while
Moon is interested in the configuration of lexical chunks and holds that they are much
constructed from fixed expressions. He defines the lexical chunks as “vocabulary
items which consist of a sequence of two or more words” [12], which semantically or
syntactically forms a meaningful and inseparable whole. ...
……
…
3
The Role of Lexical Chunks in Second Language Acquisition
References
[1] WIDDOWSON H G. Knowledge of language and ability for use [J]. Applied
Linguistics，1989 (2): 128-137.
[2] PAWLEY A, SYDER H. Two puzzles for linguistic theory: Native-like selection
and native-like fluency [C]. RICHARD J, SCHMIDT R (eds.). Language and
Communication. London: Longman. 1983: 58-70.
[3] WEINERT R. The role of formulaic language in second language acquisition: A
review [J]. Applied Linguistics. 1995 (2): 180-205.
[4] ELLIS R. Second language acquisition [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign
Language Education Press，2000: 25-26
[5] KRASHEN S D. Principles and practice in second language acquisition [M].
Oxford: Pergamon Press，1982: 101-103
[6] SAFFRAN J R，SENGHAS A，TRUESWELL J C. The acquisition of language by
children [DB/OL].
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/infantlearning/publications/PNAS.pdf, 2001-09-06
[7] LEWIS M. Implementing the lexical approach: Putting theory into practice [M].
Hove: Language Teaching Publications，1997: 81-82
[8] NATTINGER J R，DECARRICO J S. Lexical phrases and language teaching [M].
Oxford: Oxford University Press，1992: 15-17
[9] LEWIS M. The lexical approach [M]. Hove: Language Teaching Publications，
1993: 72-73
[10] 罗凤文，梁兴莉，陆效用. 词块教学与外语学习者语言输出[J]. 山东外语教
学, 2002 (6)：36－42.
[11] JESPERSEN O. The encyclopedia of language and linguistic [M]. Oxford:
Pergamon Press, 1982: 205
[12] MOON R. Vocabulary connections: Multi-word items in English [C]. SCHMITT
N，MCCARTHY M J (eds.). Vocabulary: Description, Acquisition，and Pedagogy.
Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 1997：98－110.
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The Role of Lexical Chunks in Second Language Acquisition
Appendix
A Survey on English Vocabulary Learning
1. Why do you learn English?
a. Communication with foreign friends
b. For knowledge
c. Finding a good job
d. Passing an examination
e. Travel
f. Interesting in English itself
g. Interesting in the English – speaking culture
h. For receiving praise from parents or teachers
i. Others
…
5
The Role of Lexical Chunks in Second Language Acquisition
Acknowledgements
I would like to ...
…
Meanwhile, ...
6