Question constructions, argument mapping, and vocabulary development in English L2 by Japanese speakers
A cross-sectional study
Satomi Kawaguchi | School of Humanities & Communication Arts, Bilingual Research Lab & MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University
This study investigates the relationship between vocabulary size (Nation and Beglar 2007) and syntactic learning in English as a second language (ESL) using the framework of Processability Theory (PT, Pienemann 1998, Pienemann et al. 2005). In particular, the study focuses on the syntactic development of question sentences and argument mapping in conjunction with the learner’s current vocabulary size. Nine adult Japanese L1-English L2 speakers in Australia were selected out of a total sample of 22 who sat for the vocabulary size test, three each from Top, Middle and Low vocabulary sizes, to perform two language production tasks: (1) a ‘spot the differences’ task, used for speech profiling and (2) a translation task involving a range of verb categories including unaccusative verbs, psych verbs, as well as passive and causative constructions. The linguistic production of each informant was analysed against PT syntactic stages (Bettoni & Di Biase, 2015) in question sentences and argument mapping. Results suggest that vocabulary and syntactic development progress hand-in-hand. However Low and Mid vocabulary size ESL learners have problems in specific areas of syntax. High vocabulary learners, on the other hand, were able to cope with the whole range of verbs and syntactic constructions investigated in this study. Question sentences and argument mapping were found to be key indicators of ESL learners’ syntactic development. The broad goal of this investigation is to promote intermediate-advanced learners in ESL.
References
Bettoni, C., & DiBiase, B
(Eds.) (
2015)
Processability Theory: Current issues in theory and application.
European Second Language Association.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Birrel, B
(
2006)
Implications of English standards among overseas students at Australian universities.
People and Place, 14(4), 53-64.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Bock, K., & Levelt, W.J.M
(
1994)
Language production: Grammatical encoding. In
M.A. Gernsbacher (Ed.),
Handbook of psycholinguistics. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Bresnan, J
(
2001)
Lexical-functional syntax. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Burzio, L
(
1986)
Italian Syntax: A Goverment-Binding Approach. Dordrecht: Reidel.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Choi, H.-W
(
2001)
Phrase structure, information structure, and resolution of mismatch. In
P. Sells (Ed.),
Formal and empirical issues in optimality theoretic syntax (pp. 17-62). Stanford, CA: CSLI.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Comrie, B., Matthews, S., & Polinsky, M
(
2003)
The atlas of languages (rev. ed.). London: Eurospan Group.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Culicover, P., & Jackendoff, R
(
2005)
Simpler Ssntax. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Dalrymple, M
(
2001)
Syntax and semantics. Lexical functional grammar. Vol. 34. San Diego, SA: Academic Press.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
DeKeyser, R
(
2007)
Skill acquisition theory. In
B. VanPatten &
J. Williams (Eds.),
Theories in second language acquisition (pp. 97-135). Mahwah, NJ: Laurence Erlbaum Associates.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
DiBiase, B., Kawaguchi, S., & Yamaguchi, Y
(
2015)
English. In
Bettoni &
DiBiase (Eds.), (pp. 85-115).
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Foley, W.A., & Van Valin, R.D
(
1984)
Functional syntax and universal grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Greenberg, J.H
(
1966)
Universals of language. Cambridge MA: The MIT Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Håkansson, G., & Norrby, C
(
2007)
Processability Theory applied to written and oral Swedish. In
F. Mansouri (Ed.),
Second language acquisition research: Theory-construction and testing (pp. 81-94). Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Harmer, J
(
2007)
The practice of English Language Teaching. Harlow: Pearson.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Harrington, M., & Carey, M
(
2009)
The on-line Yes/No test as a placement tool.
System, 37(4), 614-626.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Hirakawa, M
(
2003)
Unaccusativity in second language Japanese and English. Tokyo: Hituzi Shobo.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Hopp, H
(
2007)
Cross-linguistic differences at the syntax-discourse interface in off- and on-line L2 performance. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 2nd Conference on Genetarive Approach to Language Acquisition North America (GALANA), Somerville, MA.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Jackendoff, R.S
(
1972)
Semantic Interpretation in Generative Grammar. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Kaplan, R.M., & Bresnan, J
(
1982)
Lexical-Functional Grammar: A formal system for grammatical representation. In
J. Bresnan (Ed.),
The mental representation of grammatical relations (pp. 173-281). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Kawaguchi, S
(
2009)
Acquiring causative constructions in Japanese as a second language.
The Journal of Japanese Studies, 29(2), 273-291.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Kawaguchi, S
(
2013)
The relationship between lexical and syntactic development in English as a second language. In
A.F. Mattsson &
C. Norrby (Eds.),
Language Acquisition and Use in Multilingual Contexts: Theory and Practice (Vol. 52, pp. 92-106). Lund: Traveaux de L'institut de Linguistique de Lund.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Kawaguchi, S
(
2015)
Connecting CALL and second language development: e-tandem learning of Japanese. In
Bettoni &
DiBiase (Eds.), (pp. 291-305).
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Keenan, E., & Comrie, B
(
1977)
Noun phrase accessibility and universal grammar.
Linguistic Inquiry 8(1), 63-99.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Kempen, G., & Hoenkamp, E
(
1987)
An incremental procedural grammar for sentence formulation.
Cognitive Science, 11(2), 201-258.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Kroll, J.F., & Tokowicz, N
(
2001)
The development of conceptual representation for words in a second language. In
J.L. Nicol (Ed.),
One mind, two languages: Bilingual language processing. Explaining linguistics (pp. 49-71). Malden, MA: Blackwell.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Laufer, B., & Hulstijn, J
(
2001)
Incidental vocabulary acquisition in a second language: The construct of task-induced involvement.
Applied Linguistics, 22(1), 1-26.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Levelt, W.J.M
(
1989)
Speaking: From intention to articulation. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Levelt, W.J.M., Roelofs, A., & Meyer, A.S
(
1999)
A theory of lexical access in speech production.
Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 22(1), 1-38.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Levin, B., & Rappaport Hovav, M
(
2005)
Argument realization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Mochida, A., & Harrington, M
(
2006)
The Yes/No test as a measure of receptive vocabulary knowledge.
Language Testing, 23(1), 73-98.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Nation, I.S
(
2006)
How large a vocabulary is needed for reading and listening? Canadian Modern Language Review/La Revue Canadienne des Langues Vivantes, 63(1), 59-82.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Nation, I.S
(
2001)
Learning vocabulary in another language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Nation, P., & Beglar, D
(
2007)
A vocabulary size test.
The Language Teacher, 31(7), 9-13.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Payne, T.E
(
2011)
Understanding English Grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Pienemann, M. & Kessler, J.-U
Pienemann, M., DiBiase, B., & Kawaguchi, S
Pinker, S
(
1984)
Language learnability and language development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Rahkonen, M., & Håkansson, G
(
2008)
Production of written L2-Swedish-processability or input frequencies. In
J.-U. Keßler (Ed.),
Processability approaches to second language development and second language learning (pp. 135-161). Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Slobin, D.I
(
1982)
Universal and particular in the acquisition of language. In
E. Wanner &
L.R. Gleitman (Eds.),
Language acquisition: State of the art (pp. 128-170). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Sorace, A
(
2003)
Near-nativeness. In
C. Daughty &
M. Long (Eds.),
Handbook of second language acquisition theory and research (pp. 130-151). Oxford: Blackwell.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
VanPatten, B., & Houston, T
(
1998)
Contextual effects in processing L2 input sentences.
Spanish Applied Linguistics, 2(1), 53-70.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Van Valin, R.D
(
2005)
Exploring the syntax-semantics interface. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Van Valin, R.D., & LaPolla, R.J
(
1997)
Syntax: Structure, meaning, and function. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
White, L., Brown, C., Bruhn-Garavito, J., Chen, D., Hirakawa, M., & Montrul, S
Yamaguchi, Y
(
2008)
The early development in child L2 acquisition: What happens after "canonical order"? In
J.-U. Keßler (Ed.),
Processability approaches to second language development and second language learning (pp. 245-266). Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Yamaguchi, Y
(
2009)
The development of plural marking and plural agreement in child English L2 acquisition. In
J.-U. Keßler &
D. Keatinge (Eds.),
Research in second language acquisition: Empirical evidence across languages (pp. 9-39). Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Yamaguchi, Y
(
2010)
The acquisition of English as a second language by a Japanese primary school child: A Longitudinal study from a Processability Viewpoint. Unpublished PhD dissertation, University of Western Sydney.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Zhang, Y., & Mi, Y
(
2010)
Another look at language difficulties of international students.
Journal of Studies in International Education 14, 371-388.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Cited by
Cited by 2 other publications
Kawaguchi, Satomi & Junko Iwasaki
Yamaguchi, Yumiko & Hiroko Usami
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 24 june 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers.
Any errors therein should be reported to them.