A comparative study of Chinese character handwriting among L1 and L2 beginners

This chapter compares Chinese character handwriting (CCW) between native (L1) and non-native speakers (L2) who are beginners in CCW, employing an error analysis based on the framework of Chinese orthographic units of different grain sizes. The study involves 58 L1 learners in mainland China, 126 Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) learners in Vietnam, and 14 Chinese as a Second Language (CSL) students in Hong Kong, all participating in a dictation task. The results revealed similar error patterns in strokes and logographemes between L1 and L2 beginners, while notable differences emerged in radicals and whole characters. L1 beginners showed a stronger understanding of orthographic knowledge through the interaction of phonology and orthography in CCW. In contrast, CSL learners demonstrated a higher frequency of phonological errors on regular characters compared to irregular ones, and they lacked pre-existing oral Chinese knowledge and morphological awareness that L1 learners possessed, despite sharing a similar learning environment. These findings emphasise the impact of linguistic background on Chinese language learning among diverse student populations. By recognising the influence of oral language proficiency on written language development, educators in Hong Kong can enhance their inclusive teaching strategies to better support L2 students integrating into Chinese classroom alongside L1 peers. Copyright © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Yuan Liang and Zhen Li; individual chapters, the contributors.