A1 Journal article (refereed)
Syntactic complexity in Finnish-background EFL learners’ writing at CEFR levels A1–B2 (2022)
Khushik, G. A., & Huhta, A. (2022). Syntactic complexity in Finnish-background EFL learners’ writing at CEFR levels A1–B2. European Journal of Applied Linguistics, 10(1), 142-184. https://doi.org/10.1515/eujal-2021-0011
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Khushik, Ghulam Abbas; Huhta, Ari
Journal or series: European Journal of Applied Linguistics
ISSN: 2192-9521
eISSN: 2192-953X
Publication year: 2022
Publication date: 04/01/2022
Volume: 10
Issue number: 1
Pages range: 142-184
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Publication country: Germany
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/eujal-2021-0011
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/79292
Abstract
The increasing importance of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) has led to research on the linguistic characteristics of its levels, as this would help the application of the CEFR in the design of teaching materials, courses, and assessments. This study investigated whether CEFR levels can be distinguished with reference to syntactic complexity (SC). 14- and 17-year-old Finnish learners of English (N=397) wrote three writing tasks which were rated against the CEFR levels. The ratings were analysed with multi-facet Rasch analysis and the texts were analysed with automated tools. Findings suggest that the clearest separators at lower CEFR levels (A1–A2) were the mean sentence and T-unit length, variation in sentence length, infinitive density, clauses per sentence or T-unit, and verb phrases per T-unit. For higher levels (B1–B2) they were modifiers per noun phrase, mean clause length, complex nominals per clause, and left embeddedness. The results support previous findings that the length of and variation in the longer production units (sentences, T-units) are the SC indices that most clearly separate the lower CEFR levels, whereas the higher levels are best distinguished in terms of complexity at the clausal and phrasal levels.
Keywords: English language; foreign languages; language teaching; language learning; syntax; complexity; languages; use of language; words; phrases; know-how; evaluation; study material; language courses (study material)
Free keywords: English as a foreign language (EFL); syntactic complexity; Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR); automated analysis of learners’ written scripts
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2022
JUFO rating: 1