Repair in an EFL Classroom in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Chia-jen Chang, 張嘉仁
• Other Authors: Sai-hua Kuo
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2002
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/45536160608089163694

碩士 === 國立清華大學 === 外國語文學系 === 91 === This study investigates the use of repairs in an EFL classroom in Taiwan. Two analytical frameworks are adopted: (1) the sequential framework (following Schegloff, Jefferson, and Sacks, 1977; Kasper, 1985) and (2) the formal framework (following Fox and Jasperson, 1995; Chui, 1996). Fifteen sequences are identified but only eleven are found in my corpus. Six patterns of repair (repetition, completion, replacement, addition, abandonment, and structure change) are identified. The quantitative analysis of all the instances of repair shows that in EFL classrooms, there is a preference of using self-repair. However, if the trouble source maker does not do self-initiated self-repair, the interlocutor tends not to do other-initiation but other-initiated other-repair. As for the patterns of repair, repetition, completion, abandonment and structure change are mostly found in the sequence of self-initiated self-repair. Replacement occurs frequently in the sequence of other-initiated other-repair. Addition occurs frequently in other-initiated self-repair and self-initiated other-repair. Qualitative comparison of teacher’s repair and learners’ self-initiated self-repairs shows that the teacher is able to use repair to achieve other functions, while learners are not. In the sequence of other-initiated self-repair, it is observed that when interacting with more proficient speaker, more patterns of repair are used. Other-initiated other-repair tends to be done in an interruptive manner but its deployment is to facilitate the flow of communication. Furthermore, after teacher’s other-initiation, if there is no immediate self-repair, more proficient learners tend to volunteer other-repair even if they are not selected by the teacher. The patterns used in self-initiated other-repair are related to the nature of trouble source. A word search results in addition and the use of first language triggers replacement.