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!