The Study Of Language Attrition In Phrase Learning By Chinese English Major’s Students

Language attrition, or attrition usually defined as "the loss of the language or any portion of any language by an individual or a speech community".The study aims to identify the students’phrase learning ability over three-month holiday after their College Entrance Examination. Considering research practicability and efficiency,60freshmen from English majors in QUST were randomly selected, including finishing questionnaire and phrase tests. The main research questions include:(1) Does second language attrition actually exist after the three-month holiday?(2) Is certain group of words much easier to be attrited?(3) Dose "Inverse Hypothesis" apply to the attrition of English phrases learned in the Chinese context?(4) Are there any differences in frequencies of social activity and levels of motivation in relation to English use before and during the holiday?The statistics collected from the two instruments will be further analyzed mean and standard deviation. Here come four conclusions through the experiment:(1) Second language attrition actually exists after the three-month holiday in terms of phrases in English major freshmen.(2) There are certain groups of phrases much easier to be attrited, including the learners did not realize the proper context in which a certain phrase should be used, phrases have figurative meaning, and the group with improper combination.(3) The "Inverse Hypothesis" applies to the attrition of English phrase learned in the Chinese context, that is to say:the higher the learners’ acquired language proficiency and the lower the second Language Attrition.(4) There are differences in both frequencies of social activity and levels of motivation in relation to English use before and during the holiday.In the end, based on the principle of pedagogical economy, teachers and students should apply some techniques to inhibit the attrition. The findings also suggested that institutions need to initiate measures that address attrition, so the lower level of language attrition would lead higher language ability.