The use of the English article system by Russian learners

Abstract

This study is a corpus based cross-sectional research on article use and acquisition by Russian learners. The data for my investigation is retrieved from the Russian part of the International Corpus of Learner English (RICLE). Such investigation is significant because article use is the most difficult to acquire for those learners whose first language lacks articles ([-Art] speakers). The aim of my study is to get a better insight into article use by the [-Art] group of speakers. To estimate article acquisition order for Russian learners I apply two measure systems: Supplied in Obligatory Contexts (SOC) and Target Like Use (TLU). The first one estimates article accuracy relative to obligatory contexts and the second relative to obligatory and non-obligatory contexts. The theoretical framework used in the study is Huebner's classification (1983) who proposed four basic NP contexts that determine article use:Type 1. [−SR, +HK]: Generics; Type 2. [+SR, +HK]: Referential Definites: Type 3. [+SR, −HK]: Referential Indefinites; Type 4. [−SR, −HK]: Non-Referentials. In order to compare article use and acquisition by Russian and Chinese learners I make use of what has been termed Contrastive Interlanguage Analysis (CIA).