A Syntax-based Investigation Between Malaysia Chinese Language And Putonghua And Thoughts About The Teaching Strategies

Putonghua, which is originated from China has been transformed into Malaysia Chinese language due to the dynamics of language contact in Malaysia, since then, Malaysia Chinese language differs from Putonghua in every aspect. Malaysia Chinese language known as a typical variety of Modern Chinese overseas, and this paper selects it as the investigation object. There are a total of four sentence structures of Malaysia Chinese language were analysed, including YOU grammatical structures, BA grammatical structures, BEI grammatical structures and comparative constructions.This paper attempts to reveal the grammatical differences between Malaysia Chinese language and Putonghua through questionnaire survey and language material research. In other words, the main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of languages and dialects in the syntax of Malaysia Chinese language. This includes not only Southern Chinese dialects, but also local English as well as Malay.In all, this paper consists of seven parts. The first chapter is an introduction, it tells a very descriptive account of Malaysia Chinese language at the linguistics environment and situation in Malaysia. Besides that, it also gives a brief review on related literatures, an explanation on the significance of this study and also an introduction of the theories and methods that applied in the analysis.The second chapter mentions about the related research approach. It starts with the objective and scope of study and description of subjects. Secondly, it explains the design and content of the questionnaire, and120collected data for the study. Next, it also reveals the method and procedure of handling questionnaire, and the calculation and analysis of data.The third chapter is a research on YOU grammatical structures. Based on the result of investigation conducted in Malaysia among students from primary schools, secondary schools and university, Malaysia Chinese language learners find themselves poor in mastering YOU grammatical strutures. They seem like not clearly understand the semantics of YOU in Putonghua and mixed up with the semantics of YOU in Sounthern Chinese dialects. Most of the learners think that "YOU+VP" satisfies the grammatical rules of Putonghua, but it’s actually not."YOU+VP" is proved to be originated from Ancient Chinese language and well accepted by the Southern Chinese dialects.The fourth chapter discusses the result of the research on BA grammatical structures. Based on the result of investigation, Malaysia Chinese language learners tend to use JIANG grammatical structures and "Subject+Verb+Object" sentence structure than the BA grammatical structures, though it’s proven that they can distinguish the grammatical errors of BA structures pretty well. This study finds that BA grammatical structures actually cannot be replace by JIANG structures completely because the latter is lack of the causative meaning as well as the handling meaning. On the other hand,"Subject+Verb+Object" sentence structure has decreased and even vanished the great intensity of feeling.The fifth chapter discusses BEI grammatical structures. Based on the result of investigation, Malaysia Chinese language learners do not know the use of BEI grammatical structures very well. They are more familiar to GEI grammatical structures, which is originated from Southern Mandarin dated back to last century. Besides, Malaysia Chinese language learners show a tendency of using active sentences rather than passive sentences.The sixth chapter is a research on comparative constructions. The findings of fact in Malaysia Chinese language learners is, they show poorer ability in mastering negative form of comparative constructions than positive form of comparative constructions. In addition, Malaysia Chinese language learners have a partiality for "Adjective+comparative marker GUO" sentence structure.Last but not least, the seventh chapter concludes this research paper. The main result of this study including:(1) Malaysia Chinese language and Putonghua shows minor differ in syntax-aspects;(2) according to the questionnaire which conducted among120Malaysia Chinese language learners, it shows that they are not quite familiar with the Putonghua grammar, especially the YOU grammatical structures, BA grammatical structures, BEI grammatical structures and comparative constructions;(3) the common use of "YOU+VP" structures in Malaysia Chinese language regardless of its grammatical error;(4) the recent phenomenon of JIANG structures as a replacement of BA structures in becoming a disposition marker in Malaysia Chinese language.;(5) the recent phenomenon of GEI structures as the main passiveness marker in Malaysia Chinese language, which followed by BEI structures;(6) there has been a commonly use of the comparative sentence structure which goes like:"comparative subject+comparative result+comparative marker GUO+comparative objective" in Malaysia Chinese language by its learners though it is said to be wrong;(7) in general, we can see that Malaysia Chinese language has more written forms than that in Putonghua, especially in YOU grammatical structures, disposal sentences and passive sentences.This study is made with its limitations and this plays a role in further research. First of all, the data coverage needs expanding. Secondly, a more detailed and precise description of grammatical knowledge is expected.