PASAA
Publication Date
2016-07-01
Abstract
Speech acts are the major concern of interlanguage pragmatists. The present study aimed to 1) examine the reliability and validity of an interlanguage pragmatic (ILP) competence test on speech acts in a Chinese EFL context, and 2) investigate EFL learners' variations of ILP competence by language proficiency. Altogether 390 students participated in the present study. The students were divided into three groups based on their language proficiency. The data were collected with an ILP competence test and semi-structured interviews. The ILP competence test was in the form of a written discourse completion task (WDCT), including ten speech acts and 30 situations. Data analysis methods included the Many Facets Rasch Model (MFRM), one-way ANOVA, post-hoc Scheffe test and content analysis. The results indicated that the ILP competence test was with high reliability and validity, and variations existed in four aspects of conducting speech acts: 1) use of correct speech act, 2) typical expressions, 3) amount of speech and information, and 4) degrees of formality, directness and politeness, according to the level of language proficiency. Overall, the students with higher language proficiency performed better than the ones with lower language proficiency.
DOI
10.58837/CHULA.PASAA.52.1.8
First Page
209
Last Page
236
Recommended Citation
Xu, Lan and Wannaruk, Anchalee
(2016)
"Testing University Learners' Interlanguage Pragmatic Competence in a Chinese EFL Context,"
PASAA: Vol. 52:
Iss.
1, Article 8.
DOI: 10.58837/CHULA.PASAA.52.1.8
Available at:
https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/pasaa/vol52/iss1/8