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The Emergence of Patterns in Second Language Writing

A Sociocognitive Exploration of Lexical Trails

by Susy Macqueen (Author)
©2012 Thesis 340 Pages
Series: Linguistic Insights, Volume 137

Summary

This book received the Cambridge/Language Teaching Brumfit Award 2010.
Drawing upon a convergence of sociocultural theory and linguistic emergentism, this book presents a longitudinal investigation of the development of ESL users’ written lexicogrammatical patterning (collocations and colligations). A qualitative methodology (‘Lexical Trail Analysis’) was developed in order to capture a dynamic and historical view of the ways in which the participants combined words in their writing. This involved tracing single lexemes diachronically through individuals’ written corpora. The writers were interviewed about the histories of particular word combinations. Selected patterns were later tested using the principles of dynamic testing. The findings of these combined data types – essays, interviews and tests – suggest that sociocognitive resources such as memory and attention and the ability to imitate and adapt linguistic resources are paramount in the massive task of internalizing the lexicogrammatical patterning of a second language. The participants were agents of change, seeking assistance and adapting patterns to suit their changing goals. Their activity is theorized in a model of language patterning from which implications for second language learning and teaching are drawn.

Details

Pages
340
Publication Year
2012
ISBN (PDF)
9783035104370
ISBN (Softcover)
9783034310109
DOI
10.3726/978-3-0351-0437-0
Language
English
Publication date
2012 (July)
Keywords
Language and Second Language Acquisition Applied Linguistics Language and Foreign Language Teaching Foreign Language Teaching Teaching English and American Language and Literature
Published
Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles, Frankfurt am Main, New York, Oxford, Wien, 2012. 340 pp., num. tables

Biographical notes

Susy Macqueen (Author)

Susy Macqueen is a Research Fellow in the Language Testing Research Centre at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Melbourne. Her main research interests are lexicogrammatical patterns (formulaic sequences, collocations, etc.), second language learning and language assessment. She has a particular interest in complex systems and sociocultural approaches to research.

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Title: The Emergence of Patterns in Second Language Writing