Factors Affecting Chinese-L2 Learners' Use of Classifiers

This study explores a number of factors influencing Chinese L2 learners’ classifier acquisition: L1, task type, and classifier type. I developed a picture-based description test, including composition, free cloze, and multiple-choice cloze questions to elicit the use of classifiers. Participants were 50 Chinese L2 learners from Arabic, English, and Japanese L1 backgrounds. An analysis of potential predictors suggested that, although L1 is not a significant predictor of test performance, Japanese L1 participants performed numerically better. Certain tasks (composition) are conducive to use of test-taking strategies and reveal a higher classifier accuracy to more constrained tasks (multiple-choice). Type of task was found to interact with L1. Results also showed a universal path of acquisition of classifier types, with shape classifiers receiving higher scores.