New Trends of Research on Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing

doi:10.12002/j.bisu.211

Abstract

Abstract:

The study of syntactic complexity in L2 writing has been one of the hot topics in applied linguistics and second language acquisition in recent years. Both Chinese and overseas scholars have conducted a series of empirical studies employing different measures from different perspectives and great achievements have been obtained. This paper attempts to review the current research situation of syntactic complexity in L2 writing in terms of research content, research methods, research perspectives and existing problems of the study of syntactic complexity in L2 writing. In addition, current trends of research on syntactic complexity and the characteristics of the teaching of syntactic complexity in L2 writing are briefly stated. It is not difficult to see the nature of L2 syntactic complexity is multi-faceted, multi-level and multi-dimensional, and it requires serious attention to research design and the use of appropriate statistical analyses in the future. The multi-faceted, multi-level and multi-dimensional nature of L2 syntactic complexity provides a new perspective and implication for L2 writing pedagogy. The meaning dimension of linguistic complexity might help researchers further establish and develop multi-dimensional measures combining linguistic form, function and meaning, taking the learners’ language development and variation into account, and, at the same time, pay attention to assessing learners’ language proficiency level and writing quality.

Keywords: second language acquisition; second language writing; syntactic complexity; writing quality; multi dimensions

摘要：

二语写作句法复杂性研究是近年来应用语言学和二语习得领域的一个热点话题,国内外学者从不同角度使用不同指标对此进行了大量的实证研究并取得了巨大进展。本文尝试从二语句法复杂性研究内容、研究方法和现存的问题几个角度出发,回顾当前二语写作句法复杂性的研究现状,探讨句法复杂性的研究趋势和二语写作句法复杂性教学的特点,了解二语句法复杂性、多面性、多层次和多维度的本质,希望能为今后的研究设计和统计方法以及二语写作教学提供新的视角和启示。语言复杂性意义维度有助于研究者进一步建立并完善多维度指标,建立语言形式、语言功能和语言意义间的链接,兼顾评估学习者语言水平发展和写作质量的提高。

关键词: 二语习得, 二语写作, 句法复杂性, 写作质量, 多维度

CLC Number:

H315

Miao WANG. New Trends of Research on Syntactic Complexity in L2 Writing[J]. Journal of Beijing International Studies University, 2019, 41(2): 81-99.

王淼. 二语写作句法复杂性研究的新发展[J]. 北京第二外国语学院学报, 2019, 41(2): 81-99.

Figures/Tables 3

References 59

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类别	指标
第一类单位长度	（1）平均子句长度
	（2）平均句子长度
	（2）平均T单位长度
第二类句子复杂度	每个句子中的子句数量
类别	指标
第三类从属子句使用量	（1）每个T单位中的子句数量
	（2）复杂T单位比率（即每个T单位中的复杂T单位数量）
	（3）从属子句比率（即每个子句中的从属子句数量）
	（4）每个T单位中的从属子句数量
第四类并列结构使用量	（1）每个子句中的并列短语数量
	（2）每个T单位中的并列短语数量
	（3）并列句比率（即每个句子中的T单位数量）
第五类特定短语结构	（1）每个子句中的复杂名词性短语数量
	（2）每个T单位中的复杂名词性短语数量
	（3）每个T单位中的动词短语数量

类别	指标
第一类单位长度	（1）平均子句长度
	（2）平均句子长度
	（2）平均T单位长度
第二类句子复杂度	每个句子中的子句数量
类别	指标
第三类从属子句使用量	（1）每个T单位中的子句数量
	（2）复杂T单位比率（即每个T单位中的复杂T单位数量）
	（3）从属子句比率（即每个子句中的从属子句数量）
	（4）每个T单位中的从属子句数量
第四类并列结构使用量	（1）每个子句中的并列短语数量
	（2）每个T单位中的并列短语数量
	（3）并列句比率（即每个句子中的T单位数量）
第五类特定短语结构	（1）每个子句中的复杂名词性短语数量
	（2）每个T单位中的复杂名词性短语数量
	（3）每个T单位中的动词短语数量