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Article published In: Spanish in Context
Vol. 19:1 (2022) ► pp.25–47

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Politeness and pragmatic transfer in L2 pronominal address usage

Variation of T/V pronouns in Spanish by Chinese learners

 | Nanjing University
Published online: 14 January 2022
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https://doi.org/10.1075/sic.19018.wan
Abstract
This study investigates how Chinese learners of Spanish, who have a T/V distinction in their first language (L1), use the T/V address forms in Spanish as a second language (L2). Findings show that the learners rely mainly on their L1 pragmatic knowledge to employ the T/V in the L2. Despite having relatively good grammatical control of T/V, the learners produced frequent T/V alternation due to negative pragmatic transfer. In Chinese using V normally conveys speaker’s perception of a high-power differential and in relationships that are borderline T or V usage, shifting from T to V can convey deference and tends to co-occur with face-threatening or face-enhancing acts. The learners transferred from Chinese their tendency to use V to express deference and overutilized this politeness strategy in Spanish regardless of their relationship with the addressee. This problematic usage may generate negative social consequences and calls for pedagogical intervention.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
    • 2.1T/V systems in Spanish and Chinese
    • 2.2T/V usage in L2
  • 3.Methodology
    • 3.1Participants
    • 3.2Instrument
    • 3.3Data analysis method
  • 4.Results and discussion
    • 4.1Overall results
    • 4.2T/V variation in L1 Spanish and Chinese
    • 4.3T/V variation in L2 Spanish of Chinese learners
  • 5.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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