Variability in the interlanguage of Shona learners of English : a study into the effects of planning time and linguistic context on interlanguage performance
The study has two main aims. The first is theoretical and the second methodological. Theoretically, the study seeks to investigate the nature and extent of variation in interlanguage with the aim of identifying and assessing the extent to which factors such as discourse mode (e.g. narrative vs descriptive) and linguistic context are likely to result in variable interlanguage performance. Methodologically, the study seeks to highlight the problems of eliciting valid interlanguage data using the concept of planning as is currently formulated by Ochs (1979) and Ellis (1987). Although interlanguage performance may be shown to be variable it still remains important to assess how widespread variation is in interlanguage, because variation is likely to shed much more light on interlanguage development and use, if it is demonstrated that it is neither restricted to specific structural areas nor typical of learners at particular stages of interlanguage development. With this in mind this study investigates the performance of second language learners at three different levels of proficiency in two linguistic areas - spatial and directional prepositions and the 3rd person singular. Variation in interlanguage has been
Makoni, Sinfree
English language ; Second language acquisition
Variability in the interlanguage of Shona learners of English : a study into the effects of planning time and linguistic context on interlanguage performance. The study has two main aims. The first is theoretical and the second methodological. Theoretically, the study seeks to investigate the nature and extent of variation in interlanguage with the aim of identifying and assessing the extent to which factors such as discourse mode (e.g. narrative vs descriptive) and linguistic context are likely to result in variable interlanguage performance. Methodologically, the study seeks to highlight the problems of eliciting valid interlanguage data using the concept of planning as is currently formulated by Ochs (1979) and Ellis (1987). Although interlanguage performance may be shown to be variable it still remains important to assess how widespread variation is in interlanguage, because variation is likely to shed much more light on interlanguage development and use, if it is demonstrated that it is neither restricted to specific structural areas nor typical of learners at particular stages of interlanguage development. With this in mind this study investigates the performance of second language learners at three different levels of proficiency in two linguistic areas - spatial and directional prepositions and the 3rd person singular. Variation in interlanguage has been
variability interlanguage learner_english study effect plan time linguistic context interlanguage performance study two_main aim first theoretical second methodological theoretically study_seek investigate_nature extent variation interlanguage aim_identify assess_extent factor discourse mode narrative descriptive linguistic context likely variable interlanguage performance methodologically study_seek highlight_problem elicit valid interlanguage data_use concept plan currently formulate although interlanguage performance may show variable still_remain important ass widespread variation interlanguage variation likely shed much light interlanguage_development use demonstrate neither restrict specific structural area typical learner particular stage interlanguage_development mind study_investigate performance second_language_learner three_different level_proficiency linguistic area spatial directional preposition person singular variation interlanguage