Short or long distance? : the processing of simple reflexive ziji by English learners of Chinese
The interpretation of the Chinese simple reflexive ziji can be ambiguous between local vs. long-distance interpretation. Chinese features three verb types in relation to the interpretation of ziji: the introverted/self-oriented verb (VT1) only allow a local interpretation; the extroverted/other-oriented verb (VT2) only allow a long-distance interpretation; the ambiguous/context-dependent verb (VT3) allow both interpretations depending on the discourse-context. Hence, the current work focuses on how factors such as verb-semantic and discourse-context information influence the interpretation of ziji by a corpus study and a self-paced reading study. The corpus study examines the distribution of the three verb types, indicating that compared with VT1 and VT3, VT2 is used less with ziji. Because only VT2 provides unambiguous evidence for a long-distance interpretation of ziji, the variations of the three verb types in the input of Chinese will result in a protracted acquisition of the long-distance interpretation of ziji. Also, the role of verb-semantic orientation and discourse prominence affecting the interpretation of ziji is supported based on the corpus data. The self-paced reading study investigates how verb-semantic
Xu, Mengling
Short or long distance? : the processing of simple reflexive ziji by English learners of Chinese. The interpretation of the Chinese simple reflexive ziji can be ambiguous between local vs. long-distance interpretation. Chinese features three verb types in relation to the interpretation of ziji: the introverted/self-oriented verb (VT1) only allow a local interpretation; the extroverted/other-oriented verb (VT2) only allow a long-distance interpretation; the ambiguous/context-dependent verb (VT3) allow both interpretations depending on the discourse-context. Hence, the current work focuses on how factors such as verb-semantic and discourse-context information influence the interpretation of ziji by a corpus study and a self-paced reading study. The corpus study examines the distribution of the three verb types, indicating that compared with VT1 and VT3, VT2 is used less with ziji. Because only VT2 provides unambiguous evidence for a long-distance interpretation of ziji, the variations of the three verb types in the input of Chinese will result in a protracted acquisition of the long-distance interpretation of ziji. Also, the role of verb-semantic orientation and discourse prominence affecting the interpretation of ziji is supported based on the corpus data. The self-paced reading study investigates how verb-semantic
short_long distance processing simple reflexive english_learner chinese interpretation chinese simple reflexive ambiguous local long_distance interpretation chinese feature verb type relation interpretation self oriented verb allow local interpretation other oriented verb allow long_distance interpretation ambiguous context_dependent verb allow interpretation depend discourse context hence current work focus factor verb semantic discourse context information influence interpretation corpus_study self paced reading study corpus study_examines distribution verb type indicate compare use less provide unambiguous evidence long_distance interpretation variation verb type input chinese acquisition long_distance interpretation also role verb semantic orientation discourse prominence affect interpretation support base_corpus data self paced reading study_investigate verb semantic