Abstract
This paper investigates the use of diminishers in Chinese EFL learners' written English (CLEC) and compares it with that in an English native speakers' written corpus (LOCNESS) through both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The corpus-based study reveals: (a) that there are similarities and differences in the frequency and pattern of usage of diminishers between Chinese EFL learners and English native speakers; (b) that the misuse, the overuse of some and underuse of other diminishers or patterns of diminishers indicate that Chinese learners have a different collocational range which could be affected by factors like mother tongue interference and the understanding of sematic prosody. Pedagogical implications of the study are also discussed to shed light on teaching English vocabulary and writing.LING FENG
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