University of Groningen A Dynamic Perspective on Second Language Acquisition Caspi, Tal IMPORTANT NOTE: You are advised to consult the publisher's version (publisher's PDF) if you wish to cite from it. Please check the document version below. Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Publication date: 2010 Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database Citation for published version (APA): Caspi, T. (2010). A Dynamic Perspective on Second Language Acquisition. s.n. Copyright Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): http://www.rug.nl/research/portal. For technical reasons the number of authors shown on this cover page is limited to 10 maximum. Download date: 25-09-2021 A Dynamic Perspective on Second Language Development Tal Caspi i The work in this thesis has been carried out under the auspices of the School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience (BCN) and the Center for Language and Cognition Groningen (CLCG). Both are affiliated with the University of Groningen. Groningen Dissertation in Linguistics 85 ISSN 0928-0030 ISBN 978-90-367-4526-0 © 2010 Tal Caspi ii RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN A Dynamic Perspective on Second Language Development Proefschrift ter verkrijging van het doctoraat in de Letteren aan de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen op gezag van de Rector Magnificus, dr. F. Zwarts, in het openbaar te verdedigen op donderdag 7 oktober 2010 om 16.15 uur door Tal Caspi iii Promotor: Prof. dr. C.L.J. de Bot Copromotor: Dr. W. M. Lowie Beoordelingscommissie: Prof. dr. D. Larsen-Freeman Prof. dr. N. Schmitt Prof. dr. P. van Geert iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................1 CHAPTER 2 THE DYNAMICS OF L2 DEVELOPMENT .................................5 2.1 Background: Dynamic Systems Theory .........................................................................................5 2.1.1 Key concepts in DST ..................................................................................................................7 2.1.1.1 Nestedness and ongoing interaction....................................................................................8 2.1.1.2 Iterative growth...................................................................................................................9 2.1.1.3 Self-organization...............................................................................................................11 2.1.1.4 Limited resources..............................................................................................................13 2.1.1.5 Precursors and dependents ................................................................................................14 2.1.1.5.1 The island metaphor..............................................................................................14 2.1.1.6 The value of variation .......................................................................................................17 2.1.2 Models of dynamic growth and interaction ..............................................................................20 2.1.3 Summary...................................................................................................................................21 CHAPTER 3 INVESTIGATING LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT FROM A DYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE ............................................................................23 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................23 3.2 General study design ......................................................................................................................23 3.2.1 Data collection..........................................................................................................................24 3.2.2 Data description and exploration (variability analyses)............................................................24 3.2.3 Model specification...................................................................................................................25 3.2.4 Model fitting .............................................................................................................................26 3.2.5 Considering extensions.............................................................................................................27 3.3 Methods of growth and variability analysis .................................................................................27 3.3.1 Growth trajectory plots .............................................................................................................28 3.3.2 De-trended data values (residuals)............................................................................................29 3.3.3 Moving correlation ...................................................................................................................30 3.3.4 Smoothing by local regression: spline interpolation.................................................................31 3.3.5 Pitfalls of variability analyses...................................................................................................33 3.4 Modeling a dynamic system: general considerations ..................................................................34 3.4.1 A basic growth model...............................................................................................................35 3.4.2 Modeling connected growth .....................................................................................................37 3.4.3 Precursor interactions: unidirectional support ..........................................................................38 3.4.4 Precursor interactions: unidirectional support and competition................................................40 3.4.5 Precursor interactions: bidirectional support by level; unidirectional competition by change .41 3.4.6 Aggregated support and competition ........................................................................................43 3.5 Summary .........................................................................................................................................44 CHAPTER 4 A DYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON L2 VOCABULARY KNOWLEDGE ...............................................................................................45 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................45 4.1.1 Background: Overall vocabulary growth..................................................................................47 4.1.2 Aspects of vocabulary knowledge ............................................................................................50 4.1.3 The receptive-productive gap ...................................................................................................53 v 4.1.4 A dynamic perspective on vocabulary knowledge....................................................................58 4.1.5 Research questions and predictions ..........................................................................................60 4.2 Methodology....................................................................................................................................61 4.2.1 Participants and procedures ......................................................................................................61 4.2.2 Materials ...................................................................................................................................62 4.2.2.1 The knowledge paradigm..................................................................................................62 4.2.2.2 Free production .................................................................................................................63 4.2.2.3 Controlled production .......................................................................................................65 4.2.2.4 Recall and recognition.......................................................................................................66 4.2.2.5 Testing and scoring considerations ...................................................................................67 4.3 Results..............................................................................................................................................67 4.3.1 The data at a glance ..................................................................................................................68 4.3.1.1 Linear trends .....................................................................................................................68 4.3.2 Correlations...............................................................................................................................71 4.3.2.1 The Portuguese speaker.....................................................................................................71 4.3.2.2 The Mandarin speaker.......................................................................................................72