The Role of Language Aptitude in the Development of L2 Pragmatic Competence

Autor/inn/en	Derakhshan, Ali; Malmir, Ali
Titel	The Role of Language Aptitude in the Development of L2 Pragmatic Competence
Quelle	In: TESL-EJ, 25 (2021) 1, (30 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1072-4303
Schlagwörter	Language Aptitude; Pragmatics; Second Language Learning; Second Language Instruction; Language Tests; Cognitive Ability; Speech Acts; Multiple Choice Tests; English (Second Language); Predictor Variables; Inferences; Grammar; Vocabulary Skills; Foreign Countries; College Students; Aptitude Tests; Language Proficiency; Iran; Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Sprachbegabung; Spracheignung; Pragmalinguistik; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Fremdsprachenunterricht; Language test; Sprachtest; Denkfähigkeit; Sprechakt; Multiple choice examinations; Multiple-choice tests, Multiple-choice examinations; Multiple-Choice-Verfahren; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Prädiktor; Inference; Inferenz; Grammatik; Aktiver Wortschatz; Ausland; Collegestudent; Aptitude test; Eignungsprüfung; Eignungstest; Language skill; Language skills; Sprachkompetenz
Abstract	While aptitude has been seen to contribute to second language (L2) development, most studies have examined its contribution as a fixed trait, rather than viewing it as a dynamic, changing variable. There appears to have been little or no investigation of the role that aptitude plays in the development of L2 pragmatic ability. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the contribution of L2 learning aptitude as measured by Grigorenko et al.'s (2000) CANAL-FT ("The Cognitive Ability for Novelty in Acquisition of Language as Applied to Foreign Language Test") to L2 speech-act knowledge among 121 Iranian upper-intermediate to advanced level EFL learners. In addition, a multiple-choice discourse completion test (MDCT) comprising three common English speech acts (Derakhshan, 2014) was administered to the participants. A multiple regression analysis revealed that all five components of CANAL-FT were significant predictors of L2 speech-act knowledge. The aptitude for learning sentential inferences was the strongest predictor, followed by the ability to acquire the meanings of the whole passage. The other three components of aptitude, namely, comprehending the meanings of contextualized neologisms, acquiring the language rules, and learning the meanings of paired associates, were found to be moderate predictors of L2 speech act knowledge. These results appeared to underscore the benefits of obtaining aptitude data on learners as a means for better understanding the dynamics of L2 development in the area of pragmatics. (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	2024/1/01