The Analysis Of Language Attrition Of Advanced Efl Learners In Chinese Context

Though in China, there are many language researchers devoting their efforts in this field, the studies remain in the translation-introduction phase. In China, the phenomenon of high consuming and low effciency has been an indisputable fact. In Chinese context, how to effectively acquire foreign languages and how to retain them will yield benefits to language researchers, teachers and students.Language attrition occurs in different phases, and in different phases, the rate of language attrition differs, too. The foci of this study is on language attrition of the advanced ESL learners, and promted the following questions:⑴Which aspects of second language has been attrited?⑵Did the strength of second language input affect second language attrition?⑶Did motivations affect second language attrition? If so, how do they work?There are three instruments employed in this study, namely, questionnaire, tests and interview. The results revealed that in the vocabulary aspect, more mistakes occur in the discrimination of synforms, the discrimination of synonym / parasynonym, and spelling mistakes, and in the translation aspect, more mistakes occur in word misuse and grammar in which the mistakes of subjunctive mood and inversion are the top two.By analyzing the results, the gap between Chinese and English is a key point in affecting language attrition; some aspects of foreign language proficiency was in accordance with Regression Hypothesis, and integrative motivations play more important role in assisting foreign language acquisition and resisting attrition.