Cover not available

Article published In: Chinese as a Second Language (漢語教學研究—美國中文教師學會學報)
Vol. 52:3 (2017) ► pp.209–231

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload PDF
authorization required

Lexical accessing for ambiguous words among advanced Chinese L2 learners

 | The University of Iowa
Published online: 14 December 2017
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/csl.52.3.01she
Abstract
This study investigated factors associated with and strategies used by advanced Chinese L2 learners in accessing the meanings of commonly used polysemous words (lexically ambiguous words) in sentential reading. The participants included 26 learners of Chinese from a Midwest university in the US. The results showed that word frequency, meaning frequency of polysemous words, and learners’ knowledge of polysemous words affected successful lexical access in sentential contexts. Learners mainly used five types of strategies to solve lexical ambiguity problems, of which three were more frequently used: contextual cues, the intra-word analysis method, and the dominant meaning cue. Contextual cues were the most frequently used strategy.
摘要
本研究调查中文作为第二语言的高年级学习者在句子阅读中提取多义词词义的学习策略及有关的因素，参与者是美国中部一所大学的 26 名汉语学习者。本研究结果表明，词频、多义词词义频率、学生对多义词的知识都对阅读中正确提取多义词词义有影响。学习者在句子阅读中主要使用五种策略解决词汇歧义问题。其中常用的三种策略分别是使用上下文，分析多音节词中的汉字，及主导词义提示。而利用上下文是最经常使用的策略。根据研究结果作者对多义词教学提出了教学建议。
Article outline
  • Theoretical background
  • Method
    • Participants
    • Instrumentation
    • Data collection and scoring
  • Analyses and results
  • Discussion
  • Pedagogical implications
  • References
References (38)
References
Binder, K. S., & Rayner, K. (1998). Contextual strength does not modulate the subordinate bias effect: Evidence from eye fixation and self-paced reading. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 5 1, 271–276. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Burgess, C., Tanenhaus, M. K., & Seidenberg, M. (1989). Context and lexical access: Implications for nonword interference for lexical ambiguity resolution. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Language, Memory, and Cognition, 15 1, 620–632.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cairns, H. S., & Kamerman, J. (1975). Lexical information processing during sentence comprehension. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 14 1, 170–179. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Chen, H-C. (1992). Reading comprehension in Chinese: Implications from character reading time. In H-C. Chen & O. J. L. Tzeng (Eds.), Language Processing in Chinese (pp. 175–205). Amsterdam: North-Holland Elsevier Science Publishers. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1996). Chinese reading and comprehension: A cognitive psychology perspective. In M. H. Bond (Ed.), Handbook of Chinese Psychology (pp. 43–62). Hong Kong: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Foss, D. J. (1970). Some effects of ambiguity upon sentence comprehension. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 9 1, 699–706. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Foss, D. J., & Jenkins, C. M. (1973). Some effects of context on the comprehension of ambiguous sentences. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 12 1, 577–589. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gadsby, N., Arnott, W. L., & Copland, D. A. (2008). An investigation of working memory influences on lexical ambiguity resolution. Neuropsychology, 22 1, 209–216. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gan, H. (2008). The effect of semantic transparency on vocabulary learning in intermediate Chinese reading. Applied Linguistics, 1 1, 82–90.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2011). The effects of context on Chinese vocabulary learning during reading: An investigation based on natural reading. Language Teaching and Linguistic Studies, 3 1, 10–16.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Guo, J., Shu, H., & Li, P. (2007). Context effects in lexical ambiguity processing in Chinese: A meta-analysis. Journal of Cognitive Science, 8 1, 91–107.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hogaboam, T. W., & Perfetti, C. A. (1975). Lexical ambiguity and sentence comprehension. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 14 1, 265–274. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Jiang, X., & Fang, Y. (2012). The effects of context and word morphology on interpreting unknown words by learners of Chinese as a second language. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 44 1, 76–86. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Leong, C. K., Cheng, P-W., & Mulcahy, R. (1987). Automatic processing of morphemic orthography by mature readers. Language and Speech, 30 1, 181–196. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lexicon of Common Words in Contemporary Chinese (2008). Beijing: The Commercial Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Li, J., & Li, Y. (2008). On the transparency of lexical meaning. Studies in Language and Linguistics, 28 1, 60–65.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Li, H., Li, H., Fu, N., & He, G. (2007). An investigation of the distribution of meaning items and errors of commonly used polysemous words found in the Chinese interlanguage corpus. Chinese Teaching in the World, 21 (1), 99–109.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lin, C -J. C., & Ahrens, K. (2010). Ambiguity advantage revisited: Two meanings are better than one when accessing Chinese nouns. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, 39 1, 1–19. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Liu, Y., & Peng, D-L. (1997). Meaning access of Chinese compounds and its time course. In H-C. Chen (Ed.), Cognitive Processing of Chinese and Related Asian Languages (pp. 219–232). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Modern Chinese Dictionary 现代汉语词典 (Fifth Edition, 2005). Beijing: Commercial Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Modern Chinese Frequency Dictionary (1986). Beijing: Language and Culture University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Perfetti, C. A. (1985). Reading ability. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Potter, M. C., Stiefbold, D., & Moryadas, A. (1998). Word selection in reading sentences: Preceding versus following contexts. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 24 1, 68–100.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rayner, K., & Frazier, L. (1989). Selection mechanisms in reading lexically ambiguous words. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 15 1, 779–790.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Richards, J. C., Platt, J., & Platt, H. (2002). English – Chinese Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Saji, N., & Imai, M. (2013). Evolution of verb meanings in children and L2 adult learners through reorganization of an entire semantic domain: The case of Chinese carry/hold verbs. Scientific Studies of Reading, 17 1, 71–88. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Schoot, M., Vasbinder, A. L., Horsely, T. M., & Reijntjies, A. (2009). Lexical ambiguity resolution in good and poor comprehenders: An eye fixation and self-paced reading study in primary school children. Journal of Educational Psychology, 101 1, 21–36. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Schvaneveldt, R. W., Meyer, D. E., & Becker, C. A. (1976). Lexical ambiguity, semantic context, and visual word recognition. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 2 1, 243–256.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Simpson, G. B. (1981). Meaning dominance and semantic context in the processing of lexical ambiguity. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 20 1, 120–136. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Simpson, G. B., & Foster, M. R. (1986). Lexical ambiguity and children’s word recognition. Developmental Psychology, 22 1, 147–154. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Swinney, D. A., & Hakes, D. T. (1976). Effects of prior context upon lexical access during sentence comprehension. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 15 1, 681–689. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Swinney, D. A. (1979). Lexical access during sentence comprehension: (Re) consideration of context effects. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 18 1, 645–659. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wu, N., & Shu, H. (2002). Meaning activation of Chinese syntactic category ambiguous words in sentence context. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 44 1, 427–434.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zhang, B. (2004). The principles and methods for distinguishing perfect homonyms from polysemes in Modern Chinese. Language Teaching and Linguistics Studies, 4 1, 36–45.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2011). Study on Polysemes of Modern Chinese (Project Report to the National Planning Office of Philosophy and Social Science [funded by a grant from the China National Social Science Foundation]. [URL]
Zhang, B., & Xing, H. (2006) Duiwai hanyu xuexi cidian duoyici yixiang shoulupailie de jiben yuanze jiqi shijian tiaojian 对外汉语学习词典多义词义项收录排列的基本原则及其实现条件 [On principles and conditions of meaning frequency list for Chinese as a second language polysemes] In D. Zheng, L. Li, & Y. Cai (Eds.), Duiwai Hanyu xuexi cidianxue guoji yantaohui lunwenji (er) 对外汉语学习 词典学国际研讨会论文集 （二）[Proceedings: International workshop on Pedagogical Lexicography of the CFL] (pp. 262–277). Beijing: China Social Science Publisher.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zhang, J. (2013). Effects of providing the polysemy core meaning on inferring other meanings of polysemy. Applied Linguistics, 4 1, 127–136.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zhang, Y., Wu, N., & Yip, M. (2006). Lexical ambiguity resolution in Chinese sentence processing. In P. Li, L. H. Tan, E. Bates. & O. J. L. Tzeng (eds.), The handbook of East Asian psycholinguistics (pp. 268–278). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue