Ladders and Snakes in Second Language Fluency

This article reports a study comparing first and second language fluency during narrative retelling tasks of varying degrees of tightness in structural organisation, exploring in particular a distinction between discourse-based and clause-based fluency. We argue that positive and negative influences...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:International review of applied linguistics in language teaching, IRAL IRAL, 2016-06, Vol.54 (2), p.97-111
Main Authors: Skehan, Peter, Foster, Pauline, Shum, Sabrina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
clause-based fluency
Clauses
Cognition & reasoning
Discourse analysis
discourse-based fluency
Fluency
Foreign language learning
Formulaic language
Grammar
L2 fluency
Narratives
Second language learning
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This article reports a study comparing first and second language fluency during narrative retelling tasks of varying degrees of tightness in structural organisation, exploring in particular a distinction between discourse-based and clause-based fluency. We argue that positive and negative influences on fluency are linked to the Conceptualiser and Formulator stages of Levelt’s model of speaking. Task structure and degree of subordination, which were related to greater fluency for both native and non-native speakers, are Conceptualiser and discourse oriented. Formulaic language, which was also related to fluency, is more Formulator and clause oriented. Contrastingly, higher lexical sophistication and longer clauses are associated with clause-linked fluency problems, but only for native speakers.
ISSN:0019-042X
1613-4141
DOI:10.1515/iral-2016-9992