ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the characteristics of the Chinese lexis and syntax and the main findings of the studies about second language acquisition of Chinese vocabulary and grammar. Previous research on assessing L2 Chinese vocabulary and grammar competence (VC and GC) is introduced, which is followed by the specific construct definitions for assessing VC and GC in L2 Chinese and the discussion of the measures and techniques for assessing the two competencies. Issues of validity and reliability involved with assessments of VC and GC are discussed. The assessment of VC in an L2 varies with the morphology or specific features of the target language’s words and word making, the relationships between words and meanings, and the grammatical structures. There are two foci for assessing language learners’ vocabulary, breadth and depth. Assessing VC in L2 Chinese is noticeably different from testing that in other languages, which has been evidenced by previous research on the Word Association Test for assessing VC in Chinese.
