English-Ordered Chinese
Encyclopedia
English-ordered Chinese is the use of Chinese
words to represent the meaning of English
phrases and sentence
s that maintains the order (syntax
) of the original English.
at Michigan State University
.
EOC is a way for Chinese speakers with no knowledge of English to discover the similarities and diffences between Chinese and English grammar
and syntax
. The similarities between Chinese and English (both being analytical languages with canonical subject-verb-object word order) are sufficient for most EOC sentences to be understood by Chinese speakers, with differences also being readily apparent.
EOC can be combined with a gradual replacement of the Chinese words with the original English words. By replacing highly constrained words with English, students are able to guess the meaning of the English words. In this way, in addition to becoming familiar with English syntax and grammar, students can begin to acquire English vocabulary
.
In written form, computer technology can also be used provide students with multiple choices to demonstrate knowledge of English vocabulary (using, for example, a pull-down menu on each English word) with feedback provided as to whether the choice was correct or incorrect. By gradually replacing the Chinese words of EOC with their original English words, Chinese-speaking students can develop the ability to learn and/or orally understand English.
EOC : 我 去过 那个公园 和 我的朋友 这周。
English : I've been to that park with my friend this week.
Although the basic idea of EOC had been around for a while, the role it played in learning English as a second/foreign language were limited. Popularly known as 'Phrase Reading' or 'Slash Reading' (deriving from the slashes '/' used to separate chunks of phrases in sentences), its primary aim was to read and understand English only.
Using EOC as an intermediary language, a Chinese learner of English can not only understand, but also learn, to produce English easily. EOC is also useful in helping learners become aware of the difference between English and Chinese word order.
When EOC is used in class, the main work for learners is to translate each given Chinese phrase into English. This requires less effort since the word order already is in English. The teacher's job is to create EOC, by first dividing English sentences into chunks (in other words, 'phrase reading' English texts in advance), and then translating each chunk individually. The end result will look like the second example sentence above.
Through replacing EOC with English, Chinese-speaking learners will become more familiar with English syntax and grammar. This helps them translate Chinese (not EOC) into English more smoothly in the future.
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
words to represent the meaning of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
phrases and sentence
Sentence (linguistics)
In the field of linguistics, a sentence is an expression in natural language, and often defined to indicate a grammatical unit consisting of one or more words that generally bear minimal syntactic relation to the words that precede or follow it...
s that maintains the order (syntax
Syntax
In linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
) of the original English.
As a Learning Tool
EOC was conceived of as a tool to teach beginner's English to Chinese speakers by the Confucius InstituteConfucius Institute
Confucius Institutes are non-profit public institutions that aim to promote Chinese language and culture, support local Chinese teaching internationally, as well as facilitating cultural exchanges. They are sometimes compared to language and culture promotion organizations such as France's...
at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
.
EOC is a way for Chinese speakers with no knowledge of English to discover the similarities and diffences between Chinese and English grammar
English grammar
English grammar is the body of rules that describe the structure of expressions in the English language. This includes the structure of words, phrases, clauses and sentences...
and syntax
Syntax
In linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
. The similarities between Chinese and English (both being analytical languages with canonical subject-verb-object word order) are sufficient for most EOC sentences to be understood by Chinese speakers, with differences also being readily apparent.
EOC can be combined with a gradual replacement of the Chinese words with the original English words. By replacing highly constrained words with English, students are able to guess the meaning of the English words. In this way, in addition to becoming familiar with English syntax and grammar, students can begin to acquire English vocabulary
Vocabulary
A person's vocabulary is the set of words within a language that are familiar to that person. A vocabulary usually develops with age, and serves as a useful and fundamental tool for communication and acquiring knowledge...
.
In written form, computer technology can also be used provide students with multiple choices to demonstrate knowledge of English vocabulary (using, for example, a pull-down menu on each English word) with feedback provided as to whether the choice was correct or incorrect. By gradually replacing the Chinese words of EOC with their original English words, Chinese-speaking students can develop the ability to learn and/or orally understand English.
Example
中文 : 这周 我 和 我的朋友 去过 那个公园。EOC : 我 去过 那个公园 和 我的朋友 这周。
English : I've been to that park with my friend this week.
Although the basic idea of EOC had been around for a while, the role it played in learning English as a second/foreign language were limited. Popularly known as 'Phrase Reading' or 'Slash Reading' (deriving from the slashes '/' used to separate chunks of phrases in sentences), its primary aim was to read and understand English only.
Using EOC as an intermediary language, a Chinese learner of English can not only understand, but also learn, to produce English easily. EOC is also useful in helping learners become aware of the difference between English and Chinese word order.
When EOC is used in class, the main work for learners is to translate each given Chinese phrase into English. This requires less effort since the word order already is in English. The teacher's job is to create EOC, by first dividing English sentences into chunks (in other words, 'phrase reading' English texts in advance), and then translating each chunk individually. The end result will look like the second example sentence above.
Through replacing EOC with English, Chinese-speaking learners will become more familiar with English syntax and grammar. This helps them translate Chinese (not EOC) into English more smoothly in the future.
See also
- Chinese-ordered EnglishChinese-Ordered EnglishChinese-ordered English is the use of English words to represent the meaning of Chinese phrases and sentences that maintains the word order of the original Chinese....
- English-ordered JapaneseEnglish-Ordered JapaneseEnglish-ordered Japanese is Japanese that is written in English word order for the purpose of teaching English grammar to Japanese people...
- KanbunKanbunThe Japanese word originally meant "Classical Chinese writings, Chinese classic texts, Classical Chinese literature". This evolved into a Japanese method of reading annotated Classical Chinese in translation . Much Japanese literature was written in literary Chinese using this annotated style...
– Japanese-ordered Classical Chinese - Language educationLanguage educationLanguage education is the teaching and learning of a foreign or second language. Language education is a branch of applied linguistics.- Need for language education :...
- Mother tongue mirroringMother tongue mirroringMother tongue mirroring is a technique for teaching languages. It is the adaptation of the time-honoured practice of literal translation, or word-for word translation for pedagogical purposes. The aim is to make foreign constructions salient and transparent to learners and, in many cases, spare...
- Teaching English as a foreign languageTeaching English as a foreign languageTeaching English as a foreign language refers to teaching English to students whose first language is not English. TEFL usually occurs in the student's own country, either within the state school system, or privately, e.g., in an after-hours language school or with a tutor...