平均語句長度在中文的應用

The Application of MLU in Chinese

張顯達(Hintat Cheung)

《聽語會刊》 13期 (1998/06) Pp. 36-48

https://doi.org/10.6143/JSLHAT.1998.06.04

摘要

本研究探討平均語句長度(MLU)在中文的應用。我們檢驗了兩個問題：(1) MLU的計算單位是甚麼？(2) MLU的有效範圍在哪裡？研究一是探用追蹤式的方法來收集兒童語料。從五個兒童中共錄得67份一小時的語料。然後以兩種不同的計算單位（1. 音節：MLUs，2. 詞：MULw）來計算平均語句長度。結果顯示，兩種的長度計算法都和年齡成正相關。從個別兒童的發展來看，MLU3.5是它的上限。另外，音節和詞的計算法也是高度相關。研究二則用跨齡法，收集80位4至7歲的兒童，在「看圖說故事」 作業中所產生的語料，然後計算MLUs、MLUw。統計分析顯示，六葳兒童的MLUw顯著的比四歲、五歲的高；但四歲組與五歲組之間無顯著差異。積差相關分析的結果也呈現年齡分別與MLUs和MLUw成顯著的正相關。同時，這些兒童的「口語能力測驗」分數，也和二項MLU成正相關。綜合上述三項研究，我們認為MLU是適用於學前兒童的語言能力評估。但是當受試者年齡較大，MLU值較高時，便需要採取較保守的態度。

關鍵字

平均語句長度MUL ； 語言評量 ； 語言發展

並列摘要

This study examined the application of MLU (Mean Length of Utterance) in Chinese. Two questions were probed in this paper: (1) what is the counting unit in MLU? (2) what is the effective application range of MLU? By using longitudinal language sampling in order to collect child language data, the first part of the study, has recorded 67 one-hour spontaneous speech samples produced by five children. Two MLU measures were computed, one counted by word, the other by syllable. Statistical analyses show that both MLU measures correlate with age significantly. Based on individual data from the five children, it is suggested that MLU 3.5 is its upper limit of application. Besides, MLU in word (MLUw) and MLU in syllable (MLUs) correlate significantly with each other. By using story-telling technique, the second part of this study collects cross-sectional data from 80 four- to seven-year-old children in order to compute MLUs and MLUw. Statstica1 analyses show that MLUw in six-year-olds are significantly longer than the four- and five-year-olds. Correlation coefficient is also positive between both MLUs and MLUw and age. At the same time, these children's scores in Oral Ability Test has also correlate positively with the two MLU measurements. In conclusion, we hold that MLU is a valid measurement for assessing preschool children's language ability. However, if with older subjects and higher MLU scores, we should be more conservative in interpreting the result.

並列關鍵字

Mean Length of Utterances ； language assessment ； language development