An Investigation of Native and Nonnative English Speakers' Levels of Written Syntactic Complexity in Asynchronous Online Discussions

Autor/inn/en	Mancilla, Rae L.; Polat, Nihat; Akcay, Ahmet O.
Titel	An Investigation of Native and Nonnative English Speakers' Levels of Written Syntactic Complexity in Asynchronous Online Discussions
Quelle	In: Applied Linguistics, 38 (2017) 1, S.112-134 (23 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0142-6001
DOI	10.1093/applin/amv012
Schlagwörter	Native Speakers; English (Second Language); Second Language Learning; Written Language; Computer Mediated Communication; Language Proficiency; Statistical Analysis; Comparative Analysis; Intervention; Asynchronous Communication; Discussion; Writing (Composition); Syntax; Discourse Analysis; Structural Analysis (Linguistics); Phrase Structure; Gender Differences; Contrastive Linguistics; Language Styles; Instructional Design; Teaching Methods; Graduate Students; Language Usage + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Muttersprachler; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Geschriebene Sprache; Computerkonferenz; Language skill; Language skills; Sprachkompetenz; Statistische Analyse; Diskussion; Schreibübung; Diskursanalyse; Structural analysis; Strukturanalyse; Phrasenstruktur; Geschlechterkonflikt; Linguistics; Kontrastive Linguistik; Sprachstil; Lesson concept; Lessonplan; Unterrichtsentwurf; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Graduate Study; Student; Students; Aufbaustudium; Graduiertenstudium; Hauptstudium; Studentin; Sprachgebrauch
Abstract	This manuscript reports on a corpus-based comparison of native and nonnative graduate students' language production in an asynchronous learning environment. Using 486 discussion board postings from a five-year period (2009-2013), we analyzed the extent to which native and nonnative university students' writing differed in 10 measures of syntactic complexity targeting the length of production unit, amount of subordination, amount of coordination, and degree of phrasal sophistication. We also compared across gender subgroups and levels of English language proficiency. Results indicated significant differences in four of 10 measures of complexity, with native speakers (NSs) engaging in more subordination and nonnative speakers (NNSs) in more coordination and phrasal sophistication. Between-group comparisons yielded no statistically significant differences between NSs and high-level NNSs, and moderate differences between NSs and low-level NNSs related to subordination. Some differences between male and female writers were found. Together these results call for interventions for enhancing the use of linguistic devices like subordination among NNS university students at tertiary levels of instruction, as well as greater attention to task design in asynchronous learning environments. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01