Assessing anaphoric relations via the phased choice methodology
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Darcy Sperlich
Abstract
There has been a continued interest in discovering how learners of another language acquire a target language’s anaphoric system. While our understanding of the issues has improved, the development of methodologies to assess the interpretation of anaphora in a learner’s interlanguage has not. This paper is concerned with introducing a methodology named ‘Phased Choice’ to assess anaphoric reference, which more effectively tackles the issues facing anaphoric testing. The data was gathered from an experiment that focused on English and Korean learners of Chinese acquiring the Chinese reflexive ziji ‘self’, results showing that the Korean learners are at an advantage to their English counterparts due to the similar pragmatic strategies Korean and Chinese share. Moreover, the methodology in comparison to the literature shows its strength, dealing effectively with problems past tests faced.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank both reviewers for their constructive comments which have improved this paper from what it was. Any remaining errors are my own. This paper represents re-worked sections from Sperlich (2013).
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Appendix
Target Sentences for English, Chinese and Korean.
N-F/NF
Tom knows that Dick thinks highly of himself.
老王认为老陈觉得自己很了不起。
철이는 민수가 자신을 높이 평가한다는 것을 알고 있다.
Tom thinks that Dick saw a photo of himself in the newspaper.
老王认为老陈看见了自己在报纸上的照片。
민수는 철이가 신문에서 자신의 사진을 봤다고 생각한다.
Tom wants Dick to give himself more time.
老王要老陈给自己多一点时间。
민수는 철이가 자신에게 더 많은 시간을 줄 것을 원한다.
Tom wants Dick to post himself a letter.
老王要老陈寄一封信给自己。
민수는 철이가 자신에게 편지를 부치기를 원한다.
P-F/NF
Confucius believed that the new disciple had not yet studied the writings about himself.
孔子相信新的弟子还没有读过关于自己的文章。
공자는 새로운 제자가 자신에 대한 글을 아직 공부하지 않았다고 믿었다.
The teacher believes that the student will give himself an apple in every class.
老师相信学生每一堂课都会给自己一颗苹果。
선생님은 학생이 매 수업중 자신에게 사과를 줄 것을 믿는다.
The Emperor commissioned the artist to paint a portrait of himself.
皇帝派画家画一幅自己的画像。
황제는 화가에게 자신의 초상화를 그릴 것을 위임했다.
The Emperor commissioned the architect to design a new royal capital for himself.
皇帝派设计师设计一座新的皇都给自己。
황제는 건축가에게 자신을 위한 새로운 황도를 설계할 것을 위임했다.
PS-F/NF
The poisoned hero doesn’t know that the devious villain poisoned himself.
中毒的英雄不知道是坏人毒死自己的。
중독된 영웅은 교활한 악한이 자신에게 독을 쓴 것을 알지 못한다.
The injured policeman said that the drunken motorist assaulted himself.
受伤的警察说酒醉的驾驶攻击自己。
부상 당한 경찰은 음주 운전자가 자신을 폭행했다고 말했다.
The old soldier wants to tell the young man the terrible war stories about himself.
老兵想要跟年轻人说自己可怕的打仗的故事。
늙은 군인은 젊은 남자에게 자신에 대한 끔찍한 전쟁 이야기를 말하기를 원한다.
The arrogant movie star wants to show the weak director the rewritten parts about himself.
自大的电影明星给软弱的导演看自己角色重改的部分。
거만한 배우는 나약한 감독에게 자신에 대해 재작성된 부분을 보여주기를 원한다.
T-F
Tom heard that Dick thinks that Harry had hurt himself.
老王听说老陈认为老李伤害了自己。
철이는 민수가 동수는 자신을 해쳤다고 생각한다고 들었다.
Tom thought that Dick said that Harry hates himself.
老王以为老陈说老李讨厌自己。
철이는 민수가 동수는 자신을 미워한다고 말했다고 생각했다.
P-LD1
The visiting president knows that the school teacher said that the student had met himself once before.
来参观的总统知道学校老师说学生有见过自己。
방문한 대통령은 선생님이 학생은 자신을 전해 한번 만났다고 말했다는 것을 안다.
The school boy hopes that the teacher will guarantee that the school bully won’t tease himself in class tomorrow.
小学生希望老师会保证校园流氓明天上课不会欺负自己。
남학생은 선생님이 학교에서 따돌림이 내일 교실에서 자신을 괴롭히지 않을 것을 보장해 줄 것을 바란다.
P-LD2
The doctor found out that the patient doesn’t know that the chemist prescribed himself with the wrong medication.
医生发现病人不知道药剂师开错药给自己。
의사는 환자가 약사는 자신에게 잘못된 약을 처방했다는 것을 알지 못 한다는 것을 간파했다.
The cook heard that the customer complained that the waiter served himself with the wrong main.
厨师听见客人抱怨服务生上错菜给自己。
조리사는 고객이 웨이터는 자신에게 잘못된 식사를 제공했다고 불평하는 것을 들었다.
PS-LD1
The famous scientist thinks that a colleague knows that the journalist will interview himself tomorrow.
有名的科学家认为同事知道明天会有记者来采访自己。
유명한 과학자는 동료가 신문기자는 내일 자신을 면담 한다는 것을 안다고 생각한다.
The imprisoned president suspected that the colonel knew that the general would overthrow himself.
被囚禁的总统怀疑中校知道将军会推翻自己。
수감된 대통령은 중령이 장군은 자신을 전복 시킨다는 것을 알고 있다고 의심했다.
PS-LD2
The student heard that the lazy teacher knows that the angry principal will fire himself tomorrow.
学生听说懒惰的老师知道生气的校长明天会解聘自己。
학생은 게으른 선생님이 화난 교장은 내일 자신을 해고 시킨다는 것을 안다고 들었다.
The happy teacher believes that the bad student knows that the principal will expel himself tomorrow.
快乐的老师相信坏学生知道校长明天会开除自己。
행복한 선생님은 불량 학생이 교장은 내일 자신을 쫓아 낸다는 것을 안다고 믿는다.
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