Representation Of Communication Model Of Spoken Prefabricated Chunks In ECLDs

This thesis mainly does researches on spoken prefabricated chunks; theresearch achievements are then applied to dictionary to optimize the representationof spoken prefabricated chunks in ECLDs.Spoken prefabricated chunks are important components of dailycommunications. They can help structure conversations and make them more fluentand natural. But they are also difficult for Chinese EFL learners to learn and grasp,as well as to use them properly in practice. They are relatively fixed in form,transparent in meaning and flexible in pragmatic function. Chinese EFL learners notonly find it hard to interpret, but also do not know in what circumstance and whenshould they use them. Actually, a spoken prefabricated chunk is a kind ofcommunication model. Apart from semantic meaning it represents, it contains muchrich pragmatic information, which is essential for a proper use. ECLD, as one of themajor ways for Chinese EFL learners to learn English, should undoubtedly find abetter way to treat spoken prefabricated chunks. This thesis aims to delve intocommunication models of spoken prefabricated chunks and their typical functions,which are then used for the optimization of dictionaries.A corpus-based approach is adopted first. The author investigates a typicalgroup of spoken prefabricated chunks in corpus of native speakers, trying to figureout prototypes of communication models, their corresponding functions, andcategorizations. Then a corpus of Chinese EFL learners is tapped on to find out howChinese EFL learners grasp spoken prefabricated chunks and common errors thatChinese EFL learners are prone to commit. Four major ECLDs are used toinvestigate how present published dictionaries treat spoken prefabricated chunks,deficiencies are found. Combined with errors common in learners and deficienciesdictionaries have in dealing with spoken prefabricated chunks, prototypicalcommunication models of spoken prefabricated chunks are introduced to representspoken prefabricated chunks in dictionaries.