TY - JOUR
T1 - An investigation of cross-linguistic transfer between Chinese and English
T2 - a meta-analysis
AU - Yang, Man
AU - Cooc, North
AU - Sheng, Li
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank Dakota Schiel and Marysabel Guillen for their assistance of data collection. This study was supported by a research grant from college of education in the university of Texas at Austin to the first author.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, The Author(s).
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - Cross-linguistic transfer embodies language learners’ use of linguistic knowledge of their first language to leverage the learning of a second language. The cross-linguisitc transfer between Chinese and English has been studied by scholars from different disciplines. However, variances and inconsistencies exist among prior studies regarding the investigated linguistic domains and reported results. Therefore, a meta-analysis is needed to systematically investigate the cross-linguistic transfer between Chinese and English. This meta-analysis presents research on cross-linguistic transfer between the two languages in four domains: phonological awareness, decoding skills, vocabulary, and morphological awareness. Using 33 articles conducted in different countries, our results show small to moderate levels of transfer in the above four domains. In addition, it was found that the results were moderated by geographic location of the study and participant age. Overall, the meta-analysis indicates that English and Chinese share common linguistic features that can allow for transfer in learning between the languages. Bilingual learners can benefit in educational environments that tap into these linguistic features.
AB - Cross-linguistic transfer embodies language learners’ use of linguistic knowledge of their first language to leverage the learning of a second language. The cross-linguisitc transfer between Chinese and English has been studied by scholars from different disciplines. However, variances and inconsistencies exist among prior studies regarding the investigated linguistic domains and reported results. Therefore, a meta-analysis is needed to systematically investigate the cross-linguistic transfer between Chinese and English. This meta-analysis presents research on cross-linguistic transfer between the two languages in four domains: phonological awareness, decoding skills, vocabulary, and morphological awareness. Using 33 articles conducted in different countries, our results show small to moderate levels of transfer in the above four domains. In addition, it was found that the results were moderated by geographic location of the study and participant age. Overall, the meta-analysis indicates that English and Chinese share common linguistic features that can allow for transfer in learning between the languages. Bilingual learners can benefit in educational environments that tap into these linguistic features.
KW - Chinese
KW - Cross-linguistic transfer
KW - English
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85072233642&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s40862-017-0036-9
DO - 10.1186/s40862-017-0036-9
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85072233642
SN - 2363-5169
VL - 2
JO - Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education
JF - Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education
IS - 1
M1 - 15
ER -