Measuring Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing Using Fine‐Grained Clausal and Phrasal Indices.
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| Title: | Measuring Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing Using Fine‐Grained Clausal and Phrasal Indices. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | KYLE, K. R. I. S. T. O. P. H. E. R.1 kkyle@hawaii.edu, CROSSLEY, S. C. O. T. T. A.2 scrossley@gsu.edu |
| Source: | Modern Language Journal (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). Jun2018, Vol. 102 Issue 2, p333-349. 17p. 3 Diagrams, 19 Charts. |
| Subject Terms: | *English as a foreign language, *Writing evaluation, *Test of English as a Foreign Language, Syntax in the English language, Clauses (Grammar), Linguistic complexity |
| Abstract: | Syntactic complexity is an important measure of second language (L2) writing proficiency (Larsen–Freeman, 1978; Lu, 2011). Large‐grained indices such as the mean length of T‐unit (MLTU) have been used with the most consistency in L2 writing studies (Ortega, 2003). Recently, indices such as MLTU have been criticized, both for the difficulty in interpretation (e.g., Norris & Ortega, 2009) and for a potentially misplaced focus on clausal subordination (e.g., Biber, Gray, & Poonpon, 2011). In this article, we attempt to address both of these criticisms by using traditional indices of syntactic complexity (e.g., MLTU), fine‐grained indices of clausal complexity, and fine‐grained indices of phrasal complexity to predict holistic scores of writing quality. In 4 studies, we used indices of each index type to predict holistic writing quality scores in independent essays on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). We then used all index types in a combined analysis to predict a holistic writing score. The results indicated that fine‐grained indices of phrasal complexity were better predictors of writing quality than either traditional or fine‐grained clausal indices, though a single fine‐grained index of clausal complexity contributed to the combined model. These results provide some support for Biber et al.’s (2011) claims regarding complexity and academic L2 writing proficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Modern Language Journal (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 129595819 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Measuring Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing Using Fine‐Grained Clausal and Phrasal Indices. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22KYLE%2C+K%2E+R%2E+I%2E+S%2E+T%2E+O%2E+P%2E+H%2E+E%2E+R%2E%22">KYLE, K. R. I. S. T. O. P. H. E. R.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> kkyle@hawaii.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22CROSSLEY%2C+S%2E+C%2E+O%2E+T%2E+T%2E+A%2E%22">CROSSLEY, S. C. O. T. T. A.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><i> scrossley@gsu.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Modern+Language+Journal+%28John+Wiley+%26+Sons%2C+Inc%2E%29%22">Modern Language Journal (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)</searchLink>. Jun2018, Vol. 102 Issue 2, p333-349. 17p. 3 Diagrams, 19 Charts. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+as+a+foreign+language%22">English as a foreign language</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+evaluation%22">Writing evaluation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+of+English+as+a+Foreign+Language%22">Test of English as a Foreign Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Syntax+in+the+English+language%22">Syntax in the English language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Clauses+%28Grammar%29%22">Clauses (Grammar)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Linguistic+complexity%22">Linguistic complexity</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Syntactic complexity is an important measure of second language (L2) writing proficiency (Larsen–Freeman, 1978; Lu, 2011). Large‐grained indices such as the mean length of T‐unit (MLTU) have been used with the most consistency in L2 writing studies (Ortega, 2003). Recently, indices such as MLTU have been criticized, both for the difficulty in interpretation (e.g., Norris & Ortega, 2009) and for a potentially misplaced focus on clausal subordination (e.g., Biber, Gray, & Poonpon, 2011). In this article, we attempt to address both of these criticisms by using traditional indices of syntactic complexity (e.g., MLTU), fine‐grained indices of clausal complexity, and fine‐grained indices of phrasal complexity to predict holistic scores of writing quality. In 4 studies, we used indices of each index type to predict holistic writing quality scores in independent essays on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). We then used all index types in a combined analysis to predict a holistic writing score. The results indicated that fine‐grained indices of phrasal complexity were better predictors of writing quality than either traditional or fine‐grained clausal indices, though a single fine‐grained index of clausal complexity contributed to the combined model. These results provide some support for Biber et al.’s (2011) claims regarding complexity and academic L2 writing proficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Modern Language Journal (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1111/modl.12468 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 17 StartPage: 333 Subjects: – SubjectFull: English as a foreign language Type: general – SubjectFull: Writing evaluation Type: general – SubjectFull: Test of English as a Foreign Language Type: general – SubjectFull: Syntax in the English language Type: general – SubjectFull: Clauses (Grammar) Type: general – SubjectFull: Linguistic complexity Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Measuring Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing Using Fine‐Grained Clausal and Phrasal Indices. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: KYLE, K. R. I. S. T. O. P. H. E. R. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: CROSSLEY, S. C. O. T. T. A. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2018 Type: published Y: 2018 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00267902 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 102 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Modern Language Journal (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) Type: main |
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