SLA developmental stages in the CEFR-related learner corpus MERLIN
Inversion and verb-end structures in German A2 and B1 learner texts
Little is known about the link between Second Language Acquisition (SLA) developmental stages (
Pienemann 1998) and the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) proficiency levels.
Therefore, this study examines the inversion (INV) and verb-end (VEND) stages in L2 German MERLIN texts rated B1
(
N = 104) or A2 (
N = 32). Two acquisition criteria are applied to individual texts
(emergence,
Pienemann 1998; 75%-correct,
Ellis
1989) and combined with analyses of texts grouped at CEFR levels. Results suggest links between developmental stages
and CEFR levels: VEND was emerged in 44% of B1 texts, while most A2 texts did not contain VEND. Many B1 texts (61.5%), but only
37.5% of A2 texts showed emergence of INV. However, analyses also revealed persisting problems with INV accuracy at B1. More
generally, the study points out shared challenges for Learner Corpus Research, SLA, and proficiency/assessment research related to
the availability of linguistic evidence in learner texts.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Background
- 2.1Inversion and verb-end in German L2
- 2.2Literature review
- 3.Research questions
- 4.Methods
- 4.1Data: The MERLIN corpus
- 4.2Sampling strategy
- 4.3Data preparation
- 4.4Methods of data analysis
- 4.4.1Frequency of INV/VEND at A2 and B1 (RQ1)
- 4.4.2Application of the criteria of L2 acquisition (emergence/75% correct, RQ2)
- 4.4.3Relating INV and VEND to CEFR levels
- 5.Results
- 5.1RQ1: Frequency of INV and VEND at A2 and B1
- 5.2RQ2: Acquisition of INV and VEND at A2 and B1
- 5.2.1Emergence of INV and VEND
- 5.2.2Frequency-based accuracy of INV and VEND
- 5.2.3Comparing acquisition criteria
- 5.3RQ3: INV and VEND and their relationship to CEFR levels A2 and B1
- 5.3.1Further frequency analyses with a focus on accuracy
- 5.3.2INV and VEND as potential criterial features
- 5.3.3Correlations of INV and VEND with proficiency ratings
- 6.Discussion
- 7.Conclusion
- Notes
-
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