This thesis investigates the relationship between vocabulary and grammar learning aptitude (measured by two LLAMA subtests) and accuracy constituents in adult L2 speakers’ oral and written...Show moreThis thesis investigates the relationship between vocabulary and grammar learning aptitude (measured by two LLAMA subtests) and accuracy constituents in adult L2 speakers’ oral and written discourse productions. It also examines the relationship between the speaking and writing attainment, and the extent to which the link between performance in aptitude and speaking differs from the one for writing. Oral and written picture narratives elicited from 30 ESL speakers were analyzed and coded in terms of lexical and morphosyntactic errors per 100 words. The results of the Spearman correlation analyses revealed that vocabulary learning aptitude is significantly associated with the command of lexis and morphosyntax in writing, explicit grammar learning aptitude shows no significant association with accuracy in both production modes, and time availability in writing has no influence on the interplay between explicit and implicit knowledge with regard to the access of lexical forms. No significant differences were found with respect to the strength of aptitude-speaking and aptitude-writing relations.Show less
Discourse markers can provide various insights into the thought processes of the speaker producing them. For instance, previous research (see Maschler & Shapiro, 2016; Yeh & Huang, 2016;...Show moreDiscourse markers can provide various insights into the thought processes of the speaker producing them. For instance, previous research (see Maschler & Shapiro, 2016; Yeh & Huang, 2016; Othman, 2010 for markers of certainty; see Jucker, 1993; Urizar & Samuel, 2014 for markers of uncertainty) has demonstrated how specific discourse markers can reflect an epistemic stance of (un)certainty to the statement made. At the same time, certainty can be related to expertise, including the ability to provide more details in certain scenarios or, alternatively, provide only the most concise correct answer to a question (Tenbrink, 2020). We address the relation between the presence of markers of (un)certainty and the level of detail (granularity) in the linguistic data by qualitatively analysing eight think-aloud protocols collected while participants arranged place names from memory on a blank sheet functioning as a map. Because certain areas were more familiar to the participants than others, this scenario led to ample and varied use of discourse markers of (un)certainty. The transcripts were segmented and analysed based on CODA (Cognitive Discourse Analysis; Tenbrink, 2020) principles by means of systematic annotation, identifying qualitative patterns of linguistic features on the basis of relative frequencies and analysis of specific instances. Discourse markers were annotated based on previous literature, whilst keeping in mind that certain markers of certainty (e.g. ‘right’) can also fulfil a role as merely a ‘filler-word’. The level of detail (granularity) within utterances was measured by operationalising precision of placement descriptions in the think-aloud task, as well as taking into account relevant contextual data, which reflected, for instance, how well and/or why the participants knew a certain place. This linguistic data was consequently cross-referenced with an accuracy score calculated on the basis of a grid map of the area involved as compared to the spatial placements by the participants. Results indicate that discourse markers of uncertainty tend to be employed far more often, which corresponds to our expectations for a complex task with a potential for evaluation (face saving acts; Brown & Garland, 1971; Mirzaei Jegarlooei & Allami, 2018). However, despite the high number of instances where discourse markers were used, statistical analysis revealed no significant correlation between the use of discourse markers (neither of certainty nor of uncertainty) and the accuracy scores of the location placements. On the other hand, granularity level did have a significant negative correlation with accuracy scores in our data set (so; the higher the level of granularity, the lower the accuracy score would be). This would indicate that experts tend to provide concise but correct answers, opening up various pathways for further investigation. It must be noted that the corpus employed for this exploratory study was relatively small (N=8), so these results should only be taken as an indication for potential further research rather than conclusive evidence.Show less
In second language (L2) research and in some types of L2 testing, measures of complexity, accuracy and fluency (CAF) are widely applied both to capture performance of language learners as well as...Show moreIn second language (L2) research and in some types of L2 testing, measures of complexity, accuracy and fluency (CAF) are widely applied both to capture performance of language learners as well as to assess L2 learners’ proficiency underlying their performance. In spite of the long research interest in CAF, many questions are still raised, including a significant question as to what extent L2 CAF measures are correct indicators of L2 proficiency. A speaking-oriented study by De Jong et al. (2015) indicates that measures of L1 and L2 fluency are strongly correlated and therefore concluded that there was a large overlap for many aspect of fluency. This study aimed to examine L2 complexity, accuracy and fluency measures and compared them to L1 behavior. Furthermore, the current study also considered whether such correlations are stronger for high-proficient L2 Speakers. Spontaneous speech of 10 native speakers of Armenian and 19 native speakers of Arabic with L2 Dutch is recorded and analyzed with regard to complexity, accuracy, and fluency. Analysis revealed that measures of Complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) in L1 do not significantly correlate with the equivalent measures in L2. The findings would support the threshold hypothesis (LTH), indicating that some threshold of proficiency needs to be attained in L2 before L1 skills can be transferred in the L2.Show less
Research master thesis | Linguistics (research) (MA)
open access
This thesis investigates implicit accuracy, which is considered the ability to use structures and rules that have become internalized and can thus be uttered easily, and explicit accuracy, defined...Show moreThis thesis investigates implicit accuracy, which is considered the ability to use structures and rules that have become internalized and can thus be uttered easily, and explicit accuracy, defined as the presence of linguistic items learnt by the L2 speaker that have not yet been transferred in implicit accuracy. To investigate in what respect L1, beginning L2 and advanced L2 speakers of Dutch differ in terms of implicit accuracy, spontaneous speech was elicited by two speech tasks. Speech performances were transcribed and coded for accuracy. Types of errors were marked and by use of five measures, implicit accuracy was investigated. Two MANOVAs were run to examine how L1 and L2 accuracy differs and how lower and higher proficient L2 accuracy differs. Significant differences with respect to error density and error type density were found. Correction of error was not found to differ significantly across groups of speakers. The qualitative analysis delved into explicit accuracy, which was examined by stimulated recall sessions: participants were asked to listen carefully to their own speech and to comment on errors, hesitations and the overall process of speaking. These comments were categorized by the researcher. Chi square analyses revealed that as proficiency increases, participants report less on lexical problems but more on affined aspects as task-related issues. L1 speakers specifically report mainly on issues of focus and temporal planning. This study confirms that both implicit and explicit accuracy differs across L1 and L2 speakers and across lower and higher proficient L2 speakers.Show less
Today’s cinematic movement show a heightened interest in stories based on historical periods or events. These stories, however, need not necessarily be historically accurate but may merely evoke an...Show moreToday’s cinematic movement show a heightened interest in stories based on historical periods or events. These stories, however, need not necessarily be historically accurate but may merely evoke an illusion of historical reality. In this thesis, I explored the methods contemporary filmmakers can turn to in order to achieve a sense of realism in the on-screen worlds of their imagination. I limited myself to discussing those methods that are concerned with setting, character, and plot respectively; I used Antoine Fuqua’s King Arthur as my point of reference.Show less
