基于追踪个案的二语书面语句法复杂性发展研究

Syntactic complexity development in L2 written language: A longitudinal case study approach

本文提出立体多维的句法复杂性分类框架,从复杂动态系统角度探索两名中国英语学习者的二语书面语句法复杂性发展。研究收集两名学生一学年间的作文,使用CohMetrix3.0与二语句法复杂度分析器分析了广度—深度两个维度,句子、子句、短语三层面上的10项指标的发展路径。研究结果印证了句法复杂性多维特征,发现不同维度与层面的发展模式相异。与整体的句法复杂性指标相比,局部具体句法指标更具敏感性,能捕捉更细致的发展。本研究揭示了复杂动态系统中初始状态对个体发展路径的影响,以此解释了个体差异的涌现。

Drawing on a multidimensional taxonomic model of syntactic complexity, this study adopted a complex dynamic systems perspective to explore two Chinese EFL learners’ longitudinal developments in the syntactic complexity measures of their L2 written language. Data included the compositions collected at 20 time points during one academic year. Coh-Metrix 3.0 and L2 Syntactic Analyzer were used to analyze 10 different measures extracted from the breadth-depth dimensions and sentential-clausal-phrasal levels. Findings suggest the multidimensionality of the syntactic complexity construct, with varying developmental routes for different dimensions and levels. Compared to global measures of syntactic complexity, specific measures at the local level are more sensitive to development, and thus more able to capture the incremental growth of the learner written language complexity development. In addition, the study reveals the role of initial conditions in a complex dynamic system. Different initial conditions predict varied interactive patterns of syntactic complexification strategies at different levels, from which emerge the individual L2 syntactic complexity development routes.