華語學習者口語流暢度發展之縱貫性研究

A Longitudinal Study of the Development of Mandarin Chinese Learners’ Oral Fluency

本研究探討不同母語背景之華語為二語學習者，其口語流暢度三年 變化之發展。透過每年口語測驗所蒐集之語料顯示，受試者從第一年至 第二年的構音速度(articulation rates)、填充停頓(filled pauses)、重複語 (repetitions) 及重起開頭語(false starts) 之口語流暢指標有顯著提高，而 從第二年至第三年卻只有構音速度指標顯著提高。本研究亦分析華語為 二語學習者在口語能力及流暢指標之關係。結果發現，構音速度並非有 效區辨高成就與低成就語言學習者之指標，此發現與過往研究結果有所 出入。本研究就結果討論語境及教育相關變數對於口語流暢度之影響。

We assessed the development of oral fluency of Mandarin Chinese learners from different language backgrounds enrolled in an undergraduate program of Chinese as a Second Language (CSL) between their first and third year of study. Analyses of speech data collected during the yearly examinations revealed large increases in articulation rates， fi lled pauses， repetitions， and false starts from the fi rst to the second year as well as a further increase in articulation rates from the second to the third year. We also replicated typical relationships between CSL learners’ speaking proficiency and fluency indicators. Contrary to previous research， we found that the articulation rates do not always serve as a signifi cant fl uency indicator to distinguish higher level learners from lower level learners. We will discuss explanations for this pattern related to contextual and educational factors.