Countability versus Flexibility: Rethinking Vocabulary and Determiner Instruction

Autor/in	Antes, Theresa A.
Titel	Countability versus Flexibility: Rethinking Vocabulary and Determiner Instruction
Quelle	In: TESL-EJ, 24 (2019) 2, (18 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1072-4303
Schlagwörter	English (Second Language); Second Language Learning; Second Language Instruction; Form Classes (Languages); Teaching Methods; Vocabulary Development; Nouns; Essays; Computational Linguistics; Difficulty Level; Error Analysis (Language); Language Usage; Mandarin Chinese; Native Language; Writing (Composition); Grammar + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Fremdsprachenunterricht; Analytischer Sprachbau; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Wortschatzarbeit; Essay; Aufsatzunterricht; Linguistics; Computerlinguistik; Schwierigkeitsgrad; Error analysis; Language; Fehleranalyse; Sprachgebrauch; Schreibübung; Grammatik
Abstract	Research and pedagogical materials focusing on the acquisition of the determiner/quantifier system in English frequently highlight countability as a locus of difficulty for English language learners, particularly learners whose languages do not overtly mark a count-mass distinction. The current study uses a document analysis approach to analyze unedited written essays from the ICNALE corpus, produced by 52 Mandarin Chinese writers of L2 English across four proficiency levels. A target language use (TLU) analysis of the essays, all written on the same topic, suggests that prototypically count and mass nouns are not a source of inherent difficulty for learners. Instead, count-mass flexible nouns are the locus of the greatest number of errors, due to an inability to use these nouns correctly in context. In this article, I argue that a reanalysis of ESL/EFL pedagogical practice is necessary, one that focuses specifically on count-mass flexible nouns, and revisits determiner (especially article) use whenever new vocabulary is introduced. Presenting flexible countability as one facet of a noun's semantic meaning, I argue, will add lexical depth while concurrently allowing for more target-like use of determiners and quantifiers. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	TESL-EJ. e-mail: editor@tesl-ej.org; Web site: http://tesl-ej.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01