Journal article

Publication year: 2011

Pages: 255-275

Journal: International Journal of Corpus Linguistics

Volume number: 16

Issue number: 2

ISSN: 1384-6655

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1075/ijcl.16.2.05bra

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing

Abstract: 
In this paper we present a possible multi-method approach towards the description of a potential correlation between errors and temporal variables of (dys-) fluency in spoken learner language. Using the German subcorpus of the Louvain International Database of Spoken English Interlanguage (LINDSEI) and the native control corpus Louvain Corpus of Native English Conversation (LOCNEC), we first analysed errors and temporal variables of fluency quantitatively. We detected lexical and grammatical categories which are especially error-prone as well as problematic aspects of fluency for all learners in the LINDSEI subcorpus, e.g. confusion in tense agreement across clauses or an overuse of unfilled pauses. In the ensuing qualitative analysis of five prototypical learners, no trend for a possible correlation of accuracy and fluency could be observed. Fifty native speakers' ratings of these five learners revealed that the learner with an average performance across the investigated variables received the highest ratings for overall oral proficiency.

Harvard Citation style: Brand, C. and Goetz, S. (2011) Fluency versus accuracy in advanced spoken learner language A multi-method approach, International Journal of Corpus Linguistics, 16(2), pp. 255-275. https://doi.org/10.1075/ijcl.16.2.05bra

APA Citation style: Brand, C., & Goetz, S. (2011). Fluency versus accuracy in advanced spoken learner language A multi-method approach. International Journal of Corpus Linguistics. 16(2), 255-275. https://doi.org/10.1075/ijcl.16.2.05bra