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Article

Open Access

Language Transfer Manifested in English Idiom Acquisition by Chinese EFL Learners

Author(s)

LI Ling

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DOI:10.17265/1539-8072/2023.11.005

Affiliation(s)

Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

ABSTRACT

Idiom acquisition plays an important role in the process of second language learning and acquisition. Proper understanding of linguistic transfer in terms of English idiom acquisition is helpful for EFL learners to improve the efficiency of learning English and also facilitates the process of English teaching. This study examines the Chinese learner’s language transfer features manifested in their understanding of English idioms which are classified into five different types according to their linguistic forms and conceptual bases. The results suggest that equivalent linguistic forms and equivalent conceptual bases of idioms are helpful to cause positive transfer while different conceptual bases of idioms may result in negative cross-linguistic transfer. This article may contribute to the development of language transfer theory and provide pedagogical implications of how English idioms should be learned by students and taught by English teachers.

KEYWORDS

language transfer, idiom acquisition, EFL learners

Cite this paper

Sino-US English Teaching, November 2023, Vol. 20, No. 11, 450-456 doi:10.17265/1539-8072/2023.11.005

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