The Effect of English Proficiency on Chinese Learners’ L2 Refusals

Yuhang Yang

doi:10.54097/ehss.v3i.1546

Authors

Yuhang Yang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/ehss.v3i.1546

Keywords:

English Proficiency Effect, Second Language Pragmatics, Speech Act of Refusal, Pragmatic Competence.

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of English proficiency on Chinese learners’ L2 refusal productions. 40 participants were divided into two groups according to proficiency and their refusals were elicited online using two low-setting open-ended role plays. Results demonstrated that English proficiency had a noteworthy influence on L2 refusals from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives. Different linguistic knowledge, the competence of processing, expression, and interaction, and degrees of negative L1 transfer all resulted in the different refusal performances of the two groups. Moreover, this study supported that even advanced English learners lack enough L2 pragmatic competence, which had pedagogical implications.

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