Abstract

Positive transfer is important in language acquisition because languages share some common factors which can be used to learn a new language. In addition, when one is  learning a new language, his native language will definitely influence the mode of thinking. This paper mainly discusses the vocabulary learning strategies by utilizing the positive transfer of Chinese. They are phonetic method, pictographic method and word-building method. As the results have demonstrated, compared with the boring and mechanical traditional vocabulary learning methods, the new transfer-oriented learning methods can greatly arouse the learners’ learning interest and confidence and are therefore more efficient.

Key words: vocabulary learning, positive transfer, strategies, phonetic method, pictographic method, word-building method

摘 要

正迁移在英语学习中起着重要的作用，因为人们可以利用语言间的共同点来促进新语言的学习。此外，在学习新语言的过程中，学习者的母语必然会影响他的思维方式。本文着重分析了如何利用汉语的正迁移来提高英语词汇学习的效益。其策略包括：语音迁移法，象形迁移法和构词法迁移法。研究结果表明，和传统的比较机械和乏味的英语词汇学习方法相比，以正迁移为导向的学习方法能大大提高学习者的兴趣和信心，因而是比较有效的英语词汇学习方式。

关键词：英语词汇学习；正迁移；策略；语音迁移法；象形迁移法；构词法迁移法

1.    Introduction
In the process of English learning, vocabulary is one of the most important parts. Wilkins once emphasized the fact that without grammar, very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary, nothing can be conveyed (1972:111). Michael J. McCarthy, a famous lexicologist, also highlighted the importance of vocabulary: “No matter how well the student learns grammar, no matter how successfully he masters the sound of a second language, without words to express a wide range of meanings, communication in that language can not happen in any meaningful way” (Wilkins, 1972: 111). That is why vocabulary learning is getting more and more attention from the English learners. 
To learn English vocabulary, there are many methods and utilizing language transfer is an effective way.