EBCL EBCL –– the development of the development of language function list language function list

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Liang WangLiang Wang

With Luisa With Luisa PaternicPaternic & & ChangyingChangying ShuShu

EBCL Project Report – Language Function

Generic and illustrative descriptors

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List of language functionsList of themes and topics

Lexical components

(vocabulary/character,

grammar, discourse,

etc.)

Intercultural components

(knowledge, attitude,

skills, critical cultural

awareness)

CEFR competence range (adapted from Zhang 2011)

CEF Can-do Statements

Notions and functions embedded in socio-cultural contexts

C2Texts

Operations

Events

Notions

C1 Sub-themes Notions

B2 Themes Notions

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Objects

Persons

Institution

Location

B1 Sub-themes Notions

A2 Notions

A1 Functions Sub-functions Functions

Domains Personal Public Educational Occupational

Language function is roughly equivalent to speech act and a coherent

sequence of functions (speech event) formulates an activity.

Review of list formulation

�Stage 1 Europe-centred resourcing

� CEFR-based language profiles: French Profile, Profile Deutsch, Profilo Italiano as well as TELC B1 English.

� Translate into English for cross-comparison

� Complement items across the lists

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�Stage 2 China-centred resourcing

� Compare with《高等学校外国留学生汉语言专业教学大纲（附

件二）》2002 and《对外汉语教学中高级阶段功能大纲》1999

� Complement items

� Translate into English

* Note that the list of language function is not restrictive to levels A1 and A2 only.

Findings – 1 � European resources are specified with details while Chinese

resources remain more general.

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Findings – 2� Categories of language functions are mostly matchable – between 5

and 7 types

� Within each category there are overlapping items as well as unmatchable ones – culture-specific

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Suggestions

� Suggest 6 categories� 1.社交表达 Social Interaction & Conventions

� 2.情况表述 Information Exchange

� 3.态度表达 Interaction on Attitudes & Opinions

� 4.情感表达 Interaction on Emotions & Feelings

� 5.使令表达 Regulation of Actions

� 6.谈话技巧 Communication in speech

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� 6.谈话技巧 Communication in speech

� Adopt noun forms for category labelling purposes, which can embody an array of specific items in ‘to do’ format.

� Combine, complement or to re-place items according to cross-comparison.

� Provide bilingual headings and sub-headings which are internally checked.

Questions

� Translation for equivalents is problematic as they are context-free, e.g. 4.26 无奈 helplessness? Inevitability?

� Europe-oriented samples (or corpus) for Chinese language functions are needed.

� Grouping items with more sub-levels or ungrouping as they are?

e.g. opposite meanings

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e.g. opposite meanings

Discussion + Workshop

Objectives

� To raise questions and to clarify points

� To review the list and spot items for correction with regard to categorisation and translation

� To provide sample sentences/structures at A1-A2 levels

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� To provide sample sentences/structures at A1-A2 levels

Tasks

1. Work in small groups (3-4), discuss the usability of the list and provide function items/samples where applicable.

2. Round-up discussion and reporting.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation!