Developmental Stages in Chinese: The Case of Chinese Heritage Speakers

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Developmental Stages in Chinese: The Case of Chinese Heritage Speakers
Language: English
Authors: Xian Zhang (ORCID 0000-0001-8472-5380)
Source: Language Teaching Research Quarterly. 2024 46:233-259.
Availability: European Knowledge Development (EUROKD). e-mail: editorial@eurokd.com; Web site: https://www.eurokd.com/journal/jd/1
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 27
Publication Date: 2024
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Chinese, Heritage Education, Linguistic Theory, Learning Processes, Native Language Instruction, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Sentence Structure, Prediction, Learning Theories, Language Processing, Language Dominance, Task Analysis, Grammar, Cartoons, Imitation, English (Second Language)
ISSN: 2667-6753
Abstract: The Topic Hypothesis posits that Chinese language learners progress through a developmental sequence comprising five stages (Gao, 2009; Wang, 2011), which includes the Object-Subject-Verb (OSV) structure at stage 4 and the ba-construct at stage 5. According to this hypothesis, learners typically master the OSV structure before acquiring the ba-construction. However, the ba-construction is notably more prevalent in Chinese discourse than the OSV structure. Consequently, extensive exposure to the more commonly used structure may result in a developmental trajectory diverging from the predictions of the Topic Hypothesis. The present study identified evidence from two heritage speakers of Chinese supporting the potential deviation from the predictions of the Topic Hypothesis.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1464923
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:The Topic Hypothesis posits that Chinese language learners progress through a developmental sequence comprising five stages (Gao, 2009; Wang, 2011), which includes the Object-Subject-Verb (OSV) structure at stage 4 and the ba-construct at stage 5. According to this hypothesis, learners typically master the OSV structure before acquiring the ba-construction. However, the ba-construction is notably more prevalent in Chinese discourse than the OSV structure. Consequently, extensive exposure to the more commonly used structure may result in a developmental trajectory diverging from the predictions of the Topic Hypothesis. The present study identified evidence from two heritage speakers of Chinese supporting the potential deviation from the predictions of the Topic Hypothesis.
ISSN:2667-6753