Abstract:

Foreign language attrition refers to the loss of language skills by those who have learned and then disrupted the use of a foreign language. Foreign language attrition is a very common phenomenon because it occurs in every corner of the world，taking its toll among young and old alike．This paper analyzes the effects of proficiency level prior to attrition, exposure to target language, attitude and motivation, and ways of foreign language acquisition on college students’ English attrition. It states the enlightenments of language attrition researches on college students. 

Key words: language attrition; foreign language acquisition; college students

摘要：

外语磨蚀指学习过外语的人中断外语学习后对外语语言技能的丢失。外语磨蚀是个普遍现象，它发生在世界的每一个角落，损耗着或年老或年少的语言使用者的语言技能。本文分析了大学生英语磨蚀前外语水平、与受蚀语的接触、社会情感因素、外语习得方式等因素对大学生英语磨蚀的影响，阐述了语蚀研究给大学生英语磨蚀带来的启示。

关键词：语言磨蚀；外语习得；大学生

1. Introduction
    Language attrition refers to a reversal of language acquisition and it is a process where the lack of exposure to the target language leads to a decline of language proficiency. The study of language attrition as a field of academic research was first held at the Conference on the Attrition of Language Skills convened by Richard Lambert at the University of Pennsylvania. Researches on language attrition experienced more than half a century and now it has become a relatively independent field. It is attached importance to theoretical study of linguistics and Applied Linguistics, language teaching and planning.
    The studies of language attrition can help to find the methods of overcoming English attrition. In recent years, some Chinese scholars like Zhong Shuneng (2003:66-70) and Cai Hansong (2004:924-926) have started to briefly introduce foreign researches in related fields. Ni Chuanbin, Chinese most influential language attrition researcher, revealed the brain mechanism of cognition in language attrition by analyzing the effects of proficiency level prior to attrition, length of time since the onset of attrition, exposure to target language and age on foreign language attrition. He also researched the essential attribute of language attrition. All these researches have exert great influence on language attrition in China. However, because their researching perspective and emphasis were limited, they failed to systematically display the panorama of language attrition researches. This paper will analyze the factors affecting foreign language attrition and find methods to overcome language attrition, and hope English learners can improve their learning efficiency by exploring effective strategies to prevent and reduce language attrition. It will also provide suggestions for college students to consolidate their foreign language abilities in their future study and job.