中介语可变性之争及其意义

In SLA research interlanguage is a concept of discussion with a history of over 20 years. In the 1980s,it was proposed that interlanguage should be a variable dynamic system, characterized by systematicness and variability, and that interlanguage competence should be heterogeneous. In the 1990s, these differing views evolved into an academic debate. Opponents claimed that the acceptance of a variability position meant the rejection of the distinction between competence and performance,and that a description of variation in interlanguage performance failed to explain SLA and its process. This paper analyzes the causes of the theoretical conflict and concludes that the controversy results from the differences in linguistic viewpoints,aims of theory construction,and research methods.