A Corpus-based Study on the Oral Logico-semantic Meaning-makings of Chinese EFL learners

Abstract

Logico-semantics is an important grammatical resource for assessing a language user’s meaning potential for clause complexing in Systemic Functional Linguistics. This study intends to explore the logico-semantic features on the part of Chinese EFL learners in speaking based on a corpus approach. The findings are indicative that extending is the most frequently used logico-semantic type, and elaboration is the least by Chinese EFL learners. Chinese EFL learners tend to use logical conjunctions more frequently than English native speakers, which the overuse of elaboration and extending reflects Chinese EFL learners’ lack of KAL (Knowledge About Language) about written and spoken discourse and neglect of structural roles logico-semantic relations play. The study also shows that Chinese EFL learners at lower English levels use logical con-junctions more frequently than those at higher levels, which is attributed to the growth in the use of grammatical metaphors. The findings call for further research into the oral logico-semantics by Chinese EFL learners and expect to provide insights into pedagogical implications for teaching spoken English.