The interaction of complexity and grammatical processability: The case of Swedish as a foreign language

• Published in: International review of applied linguistics in language teaching, IRAL IRAL, 2007-03, Vol.45 (1), p.45-68
• Main Authors: Norrby, Catrin, Håkansson, Gisela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult Basic Education; Adult Learning; Adult Students; Adults; Adults. Performance, acquisition; Cognitive Style; Foreign language learning; Grammar; Language acquisition; Language Processing; Language Skills; Learning Processes; Learning Strategies; Linguistic Theory; Linguistics; Lingvistik; Morphology (Languages); Oral Language; Production and comprehension processes; Psycholinguistics; Psychology of language; Second Language Instruction; Second Language Learning; Second Languages; Studies; Swedish; Swedish language; Syntax; Written Language
• ISSN: 0019-042X; 1613-4141; 1613-4141
• DOI: 10.1515/IRAL.2007.002

The aim of this study is to discuss the interaction of linguistic complexity and morpho-syntactic development in foreign language learners. The analysis of morpho-syntactic structures was carried out within the framework of Processability Theory (Pienemann 1998). To capture the level of complexity we investigate the following: sentence length, subordination and nominal vs. verbal style. Oral and written data from four adult learners were collected over a period of one year. The analysis of complexity and morpho-syntax suggests that learners can be divided into different types, such as: The Risk-taker, The Recycler and The Careful and Thorough.