Native-nonnative-speaker interaction in second language acquisition: an exploration of turn management, topic management and negotiation strategies in L2 Chinese

During one academic year at an Irish university, this longitudinal study tracked third-level Irish learners (n=10) of Chinese at the intermediate level as a second language (L2). The investigation sought to explore how learners manage topics and employ negotiation strategies when conversing with a native speaker and how they modify their language during the negotiation process. The current study focuses on two main directions. The first is about how nonnative speakers manage topics to keep the flow of conversation or expand it to develop and make the conversation more comprehensible. The second direction is how the learners employ negotiation strategies when there is a conversational breakdown and how they fix the issue to clarify the meaning and push the conversation forward. Against such a background, the current study selected naturally flowing conversations to observe the conversation between the native speaker and participants. The current study is a longitudinal one, with five data collection sessions arranged for each participant. The study ensured a two-month gap between each data collection session, and the entire data collection period lasted about 10 months to reveal longitudinal development. Based on the initial data analysis, the study noted noticeable differences among participants’ proficiency levels. In this case, the researcher further classified the participants into three subgroups based on their proficiency levels (namely, low-intermediate, mid-intermediate, and high-intermediate levels). Such an approach allowed the study to observe whether there were between-group differences when learners manage topics and negotiate for meaning and whether the native speaker employs different input and negotiation strategies toward participants at different proficiency levels. The study conducted both quantitative and qualitative analyses in the data analysis section. The results showed differences between participants at different proficiency levels regarding the negotiation strategies and modifications they resorted to when conversing with the native speaker. In terms of longitudinal development, sessions one and five demonstrate variations in specific negotiation strategies, and topic and turn management development.

Grantor dc:publisher

University College Cork

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Yang, Ning

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Howard, Martin

• Native-nonnative-speaker interaction
• Second language acquisition
• Chinese as a second language

Statement dc:rights

• © 2026, Ning Yang.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10468/18884

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:cora.ucc.ie:10468/18884