自从中间语言假设系统地提出以来(Selinker,1972),第二语言学习者的语言系统性已被某些圈子内的人视为公理。不过,正如Labov指出,即使在该假设系统地提出之前,在任何语言体系内,“系统性程度是经验性质的”(Labov,1971)。在过去十年间,若干经验性研究从几种角度考察了第二语言的言语材料以确定中间语言在何种程度上可看作是系统性的以及系统性的性质是什么。 Since the hypothesis of intermediate language was systematically proposed (Selinker, 1972), the linguistic system of second language learners has been regarded as axiomatic by some circles. However, as Labov pointed out, “systematicness is empirical” in any linguistic system even before the hypothesis is formulated (Labov, 1971). In the past decade, several empirical studies examined the language of the second language from several perspectives to determine to what extent the intermediate language can be viewed as both systematic and systematic.