1887
  1. Home
  2. e-Journals
  3. Chinese as a Second Language. The journal of the Chinese Language Teachers Association, USA
  4. Online First Articles
  5. Online First Article
image of The acquisition of the Chinese 被 bèi passive construction by L1 Italian learners
USD
Buy:$35.00 + Taxes

Abstract

Abstract

This study investigates the L2 acquisition of the Chinese passive construction (BPC) by L1 Italian learners, focusing on four challenging features: the acceptability of the post-verbal patient, the unacceptability of the post-verbal agent, and the incompatibility with stative and creation verbs. Learners’ knowledge was examined through triangulating acceptability judgment tests and verbal reports. Participants included 108 L1 Italian learners and 33 native Chinese speakers as a baseline. Results show that learners are familiar with BPC but lack explicit and metalinguistic knowledge of the investigated features. Compared to native speakers, they struggle to understand the dislocation of the direct patient when there is an indirect patient in topic position, the unacceptability of post-verbal agents, and verb-type restrictions. Structural mismatches between the Chinese BPC and the Italian passive likely contribute to learners’ difficulties in grasping the construction, alongside other interacting factors such as variability in L2 input and instructional shortcomings.

© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/csl.25002.loc
2025-10-21
2025-11-13

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1075/csl.25002.loc
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Chan, S. M. J., Wing, Y., & Florence, L.
    (2016) The Routledge encyclopedia of the Chinese language. Abingdon: Routledge. 10.4324/9781315675541
     https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315675541 [Google Scholar]
  2. Chappell, H.
    (1986a) Formal and colloquial adversity passives in standard Chinese. Linguistics, , –. 10.1515/ling.1986.24.6.1025
     https://doi.org/10.1515/ling.1986.24.6.1025 [Google Scholar]
  3. (1986b) The passive of bodily effect in Chinese. Studies in language. International Journal Sponsored by the Foundation “Foundations of Language”, (), –. 10.1075/sl.10.2.02cha
     https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.10.2.02cha [Google Scholar]
  4. Chen, C., & Liu, F.-H.
    (2020) L2 acquisition of the bei passive in Mandarin Chinese: A constructionist approach. CASLAR, (), –.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Chen, X.
    (2006) ‘Bei’ ziju de xide shunxu ji xiangguang de wenti yanjiu被子句的习得顺序及向光的问题研究 [Research on the acquisition order and related issues of the ‘bei’ sentence]. Fudan University, Shanghai: MA Dissertation.
  6. Cheng, J.
    (2007) Lun fenlishi lingyou mingci yu lishu mingci zhijian de jufa he yuyi guanxi论分离式领有名词与隶属名词之间的句法和语义关系 [On the syntactic and semantic relationship between alienable and inalienable possessive nouns]. Xiandai Waiyu现代外语, , –.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Cook, A.
    (2019) The use of the passive marker bei in spoken Mandarin. Australian Journal of Linguistics, (), –. 10.1080/07268602.2019.1542934
     https://doi.org/10.1080/07268602.2019.1542934 [Google Scholar]
  8. Creswell, J. W.
    (2015) A concise introduction to mixed methods research. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Cui, S., & Sung, K.
    (2021) A reference grammar for teaching Chinese. Berlin: Springer. 10.1007/978‑981‑33‑4207‑1
     https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4207-1 [Google Scholar]
  10. Dai, R.
    (2017) Short bei passives in L2 Chinese. NACCL-29, , –.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Deng, S.
    (2004) Zuogehua he Hanyu beidongju作格化和汉语被动句 [Ergativity and Chinese passive sentences]. Zhongguo Yuwen中国语文, , –.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Ellis, R.
    (2004) The definition and measurement of explicit knowledge. Language Learning, , –. 10.1111/j.1467‑9922.2004.00255.x
     https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9922.2004.00255.x [Google Scholar]
  13. (2005) Measuring implicit and explicit knowledge of a second language: A psychometric study. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, (), –. 10.1017/S0272263105050096
     https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263105050096 [Google Scholar]
  14. Fan, W., & Kuno, S.
    (2013) Semantic and discourse constraints on Chinese bei-passives. Linguistics and the Human Sciences, (), –. 10.1558/lhs.v8i2.207
     https://doi.org/10.1558/lhs.v8i2.207 [Google Scholar]
  15. Gass, S., & Selinker, L.
    (1992) Introduction. InS. Gass & L. Selinker (Eds.), Language transfer in language learning (pp.–). Philadelphia, PA: John Benjamins.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Gregg, K. R.
    (1989) Second language acquisition theory: The case for a generative perspective. InS. M. Gass & J. Schachter (Eds.), Linguistic perspectives on second language acquisition (pp.–). New York: Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/CBO9781139524544.004
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139524544.004 [Google Scholar]
  17. Hole, D.
    (2011) The deconstruction of Chinese shì… de clefts revisited. Lingua, (), –. 10.1016/j.lingua.2011.07.004
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2011.07.004 [Google Scholar]
  18. Hu, G.
    (2002) Psychological constraints on the utility of metalinguistic knowledge in second language production. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, , –. 10.1017/S0272263102003017
     https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263102003017 [Google Scholar]
  19. Huang, H.
    (2017) The information structure and argument mapping of Mandarin Chinese resultative verb construction [Master’s thesis, Australian National University].
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Huang, J. C.-T.
    (1999) Chinese passives in comparative perspective. Tsing Hua Journal of Chinese Studies, , –.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Huang, Y., Yang, S., Gao, L., Zhang, W., & Cui, X.
    (2007) Hanyu zuowei di er yuyan ‘bei’ ziju xide de kaocha汉语作为第二语‘被’字句习得的考察 [An examination of the acquisition of ‘bei’ sentences in Chinese as a second language]. Shijie Hanyu Jiaoxue世界汉语教学, , –. 10.3969/j.issn.1002‑5804.2007.02.008
     https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1002-5804.2007.02.008 [Google Scholar]
  22. Ionin, T.
    (2012) Formal theory-based methodologies. InA. Mackey, & S. M. Gass (Eds.), Research methods in second language acquisition. A practical guide (pp.–). Hoboken (New Jersey) & Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Iurato, A.
    (2022) Learner corpus research meets Chinese as a second language acquisition: Achievements and challenges. Annali di Ca’ Foscari; Serie Orientale, , –. 10.30687/AnnOr/2385‑3042/2022/01/024
     https://doi.org/10.30687/AnnOr/2385-3042/2022/01/024 [Google Scholar]
  24. (2024a) The acquisition of the Chinese 是shì…的de cleft construction: Triangulating corpus and experimental data [Doctoral dissertation, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Venice; University of Bremen, Bremen].
  25. (2024b) Exploring the pragmalinguistic knowledge of the 是 shì…的 de cleft construction in L1 Italian learners’ L2 Chinese: Triangulating corpus and experimental data. InI. Kecskes & H. Zhang (Eds.), Chinese as a second language from different angles (pp.–). Leiden: Brill. 10.1163/9789004678149_006
     https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004678149_006 [Google Scholar]
  26. Jing-Schmidt, Z., & Jing, T.
    (2011) Embodied semantics and pragmatics: Empathy, sympathy and two passive constructions in Chinese media discourse. Journal of Pragmatics, (), –. 10.1016/j.pragma.2011.04.005
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2011.04.005 [Google Scholar]
  27. Li, C. N., & Thompson, S. A.
    (1981) Mandarin Chinese: A functional reference grammar. Berkeley: University of California Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Li, Y.-H. A.
    (1990) Order and constituency in Mandarin Chinese. Dordrecht, Boston & London: Kluwer Academic Publishers. 10.1007/978‑94‑009‑1898‑6
     https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1898-6 [Google Scholar]
  29. Li, Y.
    (1999) Cross-componential causativity. Natural Language and Linguistic Theory, , –. 10.1023/A:1006236828263
     https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006236828263 [Google Scholar]
  30. Liu, F.-H.
    (2011) The bei passive and its discourse motivations. Chinese Language and Discourse, (), –. 10.1075/cld.2.2.03liu
     https://doi.org/10.1075/cld.2.2.03liu [Google Scholar]
  31. Liu, Y.
    (2023) Exhaustivity, contrastivity, and the semantics of Mandarin cleft-related structures. Oxon & New York: Routledge.
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Mackey, A., & Gass, S. M.
    (2021) Second language research. Methodology and design. London & New York: Routledge. 10.4324/9781003188414
     https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003188414 [Google Scholar]
  33. Macrory, G., & Stone, V.
    (2000) Pupil progress in the acquisition of the perfect tense in French: The relationship between knowledge and use. Language Teaching Research, (), –. 10.1177/136216880000400104
     https://doi.org/10.1177/136216880000400104 [Google Scholar]
  34. Morbiato, A.
    (2018) Word order and sentence structure in Mandarin Chinese: New perspectives [Doctoral dissertation, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice].
  35. Morbiato, A., Arcodia, G. F., & Basciano, B.
    (2020) Topic and subject in Chinese and in the languages of Europe: Comparative remarks and implications for Chinese as a second/foreign language teaching. CASLAR, (), –. 10.1515/caslar‑2020‑0002
     https://doi.org/10.1515/caslar-2020-0002 [Google Scholar]
  36. Peng, S.
    (2008) Hanyu dongci dai binyu „bei‟ ziju xide yanjiu汉语动词带宾语“被”字句习得研究 [On the acquisition of Chinese verb-object “bei” constructions]. Hanyu Xuexi汉语学习, , –.
     [Google Scholar]
  37. (2010) Liuxuesheng xide “bei” ziju de queshilei pianwu fenxi留学生习得"被”字句的缺失类偏误分析 [Analysis of the omission errors in the acquisition of “bei” constructions by international students]. Yunnan Schifan Daxue Xuebao云南师范大学学报, (), –.
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Phakiti, A., De Costa, P., Plonky, L., & Starfield, S.
    (2018) The Palgrave handbook of applied linguistics research methodology. London: Palgrave Macmillan. 10.1057/978‑1‑137‑59900‑1
     https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59900-1 [Google Scholar]
  39. Piñón, C.
    (2008) Verbs of creation. InJ. Dölling, T. Heyde-Zybatow, & M. Schäfer (Eds.), Event structures in linguistic form and interpretation (pp.–). Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter. 10.1515/9783110925449.493
     https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110925449.493 [Google Scholar]
  40. Reber, A., Walkenfeld, F., & Hernstadt, R.
    (1991) Implicit and explicit learning: Individual differences and IQ. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, , –.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Sansò, A.
    (2003) Degrees of event elaboration. Passive constructions in Italian and Spanish. Pavia: Francoangeli.
     [Google Scholar]
  42. Schurz, A.
    (2024) Measuring teenage learners’ automatized, explicit, and/or implicit knowledge: A question of context?Language Learning, (), –. 10.1111/lang.12624
     https://doi.org/10.1111/lang.12624 [Google Scholar]
  43. Schwartz, B. D., & Sprouse, R. A.
    (1994) Word order and nominative case in nonnative language acquisition: A longitudinal study of (L1 Turkish) German interlanguage. InT. Hoekstra & B. D. Schwartz (Eds.), Language acquisition studies in generative grammar (pp.–). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. 10.1075/lald.8.14sch
     https://doi.org/10.1075/lald.8.14sch [Google Scholar]
  44. (1996) L2 cognitive states and the full transfer/full access hypothesis. Second Language Research, (), –. 10.1177/026765839601200103
     https://doi.org/10.1177/026765839601200103 [Google Scholar]
  45. Shi, D.
    (1997) Issues on Chinese passive. Journal of Chinese Linguistics, (), –.
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Sorace, A.
    (1985) Metalinguistic knowledge and language use in acquisition-poor environments. Applied Linguistics, , –. 10.1093/applin/6.3.239
     https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/6.3.239 [Google Scholar]
  47. Sorace, A., & Filiaci, F.
    (2006) Anaphora resolution in near-native speakers of Italian. Second Language Research, (), –. 10.1191/0267658306sr271oa
     https://doi.org/10.1191/0267658306sr271oa [Google Scholar]
  48. Sorace, A., & Serratrice, L.
    (2009) Internal and external interfaces in bilingual language development: Beyond structural overlap. International Journal of Bilingualism, (), –. 10.1177/1367006909339810
     https://doi.org/10.1177/1367006909339810 [Google Scholar]
  49. Squartini, M.
    (1999) Voice clashing with aspect: the case of Italian passives. Rivista di Linguistica, (), –.
     [Google Scholar]
  50. Wan, S., & Yi, L.
    (2008) Weiwuerzu xuesheng hanyu “bei‟ ziju xide pianwu fenxi维吾尔族学生汉语“被”字句习得偏误分析 [Analysis of errors in the acquisition of Chinese “bei” constructions by Uyghur students]. Talimu Daxue Xuebao塔里木大学学报, (), –.
     [Google Scholar]
  51. Wang, Y.
    (2010) Classification and SLA studies of passive voice. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, (), –. 10.4304/jltr.1.6.945‑949
     https://doi.org/10.4304/jltr.1.6.945-949 [Google Scholar]
  52. White, L.
    (2003) Second language acquisition and universal grammar. Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/CBO9780511815065
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511815065 [Google Scholar]
  53. Xiao, R., McEnery, T., & Qian, Y.
    (2006) Passive constructions in English and Chinese: A corpus-based contrastive study. Languages in Contrast, (), –. 10.1075/lic.6.1.05xia
     https://doi.org/10.1075/lic.6.1.05xia [Google Scholar]
  54. Xu, J.
    (1999) Liangzhong baoliu binyu jushi ji xiangguan jufa lilun wenti两种保留宾语句式及相关句法理论问题 [Two types of retained object constructions and related syntactic theoretical issues]. Dangdai Yuyanxue当代语言学, , –.
     [Google Scholar]
  55. Yang, L.
    (2019) Muyu wei yingyuzhe “bei” ziju xide yu jiaoxue yanjiu母语为英语者“被”字句习得与教学研究 [Research on the acquisition and teaching of Chinese “bei” constructions by native English speakers]. Sinoss, –.
     [Google Scholar]
  56. Yin, H.
    (2012) Hanyu beidongju yanjiu shuolüe汉语被动句研究说略 [An overview of research on Chinese passive sentences]. Dongjing Baidishe东京白帝社, , –.
     [Google Scholar]
  57. Zhang, L., & Amoroso, L.
    (2020) Internal and external mechanisms of Englishization: Changes in marked and unmarked Chinese passive constructions. Círculo de Lingüística Aplicada a la Comunicación, , –. 10.5209/clac.67945
     https://doi.org/10.5209/clac.67945 [Google Scholar]
  58. Zhang, Y.
    (2015) Hanguo liuxuesheng xide hanyu “bei‟ ziju pianwu fenxi韩国留学生习得汉语“被”字句偏误分析 [Analysis of errors in the acquisition of Chinese “bei” constructions by Korean international students]. Bohai Daxue渤海大学, –.
     [Google Scholar]
  59. Zhao, Y.
    (2011) A tree in the wood: A review of research on L2 Chinese acquisition. Second Language Research, (), –. 10.1177/0267658311417836
     https://doi.org/10.1177/0267658311417836 [Google Scholar]
  60. Zobl, H.
    (1995) Converging evidence for the ‘acquisition-learning’ distinction. Applied Linguistics, , –. 10.1093/applin/16.1.35
     https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/16.1.35 [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/csl.25002.loc
Loading
The acquisition of the Chinese 被 bèi passive construction by L1 Italian learners
John Benjamins ; https://doi.org/10.1075/csl.25002.loc
/content/journals/10.1075/csl.25002.loc
/content/journals/10.1075/csl.25002.loc
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keywords: L1 Italian learners ; methodological triangulation ; 母语为意大利语的学习者 ; Chinese bèi passive construction ; “被”字句 ; 方法三角测验

Most Cited

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was successful
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error