The effects of linguistic experience in second language acquisition of syntactic morphemes and formulaic language

• Project/Area Number: 15K02756
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Tsuda University (2017); Tsuru University (2015-2016)
• Principal Investigator: Okuwaki Natsumi 津田塾大学, 総合政策学部, 教授 (60363884)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,990,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥690,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
• Keywords: 定型連語 / 語彙 / 英語教育 / 第二言語習得 / ライティング / 留学 / 定型性 / formulaic sequences

Outline of Final Research Achievements

L2 learners, even for fairly competent ones, often find difficulties achieving the appropriate use of formulaic language.The present study investigated the processing of spoken and written formulaic sequences and found that they were processed more quickly and correctly than matched novel phrases. It further investigated whether sufficient experience with language in an L2-speaking environment affects writing skills using formulaic expressions. The result showed that L2 learners’ vocabulary knowledge improved after a 5-month study abroad program, but they did not increase the skills using formulaic language. The study concludes that formulaic language does not improve as L2 proficiency progresses, and that there must be a threshold below which L2 learners cannot use multiword sequences productively and consistently. As achieving the appropriate use of formulaic language is a challenge for every L2 learner,instructional treatment targeting this property is vital and effective.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] What It Means to Be Processed Faster: The Processing of Formulaic Sequences by Native and L2 Speakers (2017)
  • Author(s): Natsumi Okuwaki
  • Journal Title: 都留文科大学研究紀要 Volume: ８５ Pages: 117-125
  • NAID: 120007016059
  • Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] How EFL learners improve their use of vocabulary after studying abroad (2018)
  • Author(s): Natsumi Okuwaki
  • Organizer: 53RD RELC International Conference
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] The processing of formulaic sequences by L2 speakers (2017)
  • Author(s): Natsumi Okuwaki
  • Organizer: 日本第二言語習得学会第17回年次大会
• [Presentation] ライティングにおける定型連語の使用と発達 (2017)
  • Author(s): 奥脇奈津美
  • Organizer: 全国英語教育学会第43回島根研究大会
• [Presentation] Formulaic language use before and after a study abroad program (2017)
  • Author(s): Natsumi Okuwaki
  • Organizer: 26th International Symposium on English Teaching
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 19.The processing of spoken and written formulaic sequences by L2 speakers (2016)
  • Author(s): Natsumi Okuwaki
  • Organizer: Formulaic Language Research Network (FLaRN)
  • Place of Presentation: Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
  • Year and Date: 2016-06-28
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] The use of formulaic expressions in L2 writing. (2015)
  • Author(s): Natsumi Okuwaki
  • Organizer: Faces of English: Theory, Practice, and Pedagogy
  • Place of Presentation: University of Hong Kong
  • Year and Date: 2015-06-11
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Book] Current Issues in Reading, Writing and Visual Literacy: Research and Practice. (2015)
  • Author(s): Gitsaki, C., M. Gobert, H. Demirci, Althobaiti, N., Allen, N., Boku, M., de Barros, N., Demirci, H., Dodigovic, M., Eslami, Z. R., Gitsaki, C., Gobert, M., Hallesson, Y., Kelly, D., Lear, E., Lin, H., Lin. J. L., Morrison, S., Okuwaki, N., ほか8 名
  • Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing