A Study On The English Lexical Attrition Of Chinese High School Students

Second Language Attrition is a common linguistic phenomenon in virtually every part of the world. According to the literature, second language attrition has been studied in the foreign academia for over 70 years. It has grown rapidly in foreign academia. Compared with overseas second language attrition related academic achievements, the status of research in China has lagged behind in terms of research breadth and depth.Based on Jakobson Regression Hypothesis, this thesis takes the high school English learners in Chinese context as the research subjects, and makes an analysis of the second language lexical attrition, trying to answer three questions: First, are the situations of L2 lexical attrition consistent with the Jakobson Regression Hypothesis? Second, what are the main features of L2 lexical attrition of Chinese high school students? Third, what should the L2 learners keep in mind for the language maintenance as well as the avoiding of language attrition? In order to get the answers, the lexical competence of the subjects was tested. Then, based on quantitative and qualitative analysis, the research result was concluded.The research findings indicate that the situations of L2 lexical attrition are consistent with the Jakobson Regression Hypothesis. Namely, language component is attrited in the reverse order of language acquisition. Through careful analysis, some outstanding characteristics of L2 lexical attrition are discovered: first, verbs and nouns are easily to be attrited. Second, L2 lexical attrition closely related to the L1 environment. Third, the interference words which can affect the correct version may get a similar spelling form or pronunciations with the target words. Fourth, L1→L2 reflection is easier to get attrition than L2→L1 reflection.The great practical theoretical meanings of this study are pointed out from four aspects. First, it can enrich the research content of domestic linguistics and broaden the theoretical research ranges. Second, it can propose the theory basis for course design. Third, it can provide reference for improving the teaching methodology. What's more, it can benefit the learning and maintenance of foreign language for the Chinese English learners.