Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T18:37:37.105Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The use of corpus examples for language comprehension and production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2014

Ana Frankenberg-Garcia
Ana Frankenberg-Garcia*
Affiliation:
University of Surrey, UK (email: [email protected])
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

One of the many new features of English language learners’ dictionaries derived from the technological developments that have taken place over recent decades is the presence of corpus-based examples to illustrate the use of words in context. However, empirical studies have generally not been able to produce conclusive evidence about their actual worth. In Frankenberg-Garcia (2012a), I argued that these studies – and indeed learners’ dictionaries themselves – do not distinguish sufficiently between examples meant to aid language comprehension and examples that focus on enhancing language production. The present study reports on an experiment with secondary school students carried out to test the usefulness of separate corpus examples for comprehension and production. The results support the need for different types of examples for comprehension and production, and provide evidence in support of data-driven learning, particularly if learners have access to more than one example.

Keywords

corporacorpus examplesdata-driven learningdictionaries
Type
Research Article
Information
ReCALL , Volume 26 , Issue 2: Researching uses of corpora for language teaching and learning , May 2014 , pp. 128 - 146
Copyright
Copyright © European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abbuhl, R. (2012) Why, when, and how to replicate research. In: Mackey, A. and Gass, S. M. (eds.), Research methods in second language acquisition: A practical guide. Oxford: Blackwell, 296–312.Google Scholar
Al-Ajmi, H. (2008) The effectiveness of dictionary examples in decoding: The case of Kuwaiti learners of English. Lexikos, 18: 15–26.Google Scholar
Bick, E. (2009) DeepDict: A graphical corpus-based dictionary of word relations. Proceedings of NODALIDA 2009. Tartu: Tartu University Library, 268–271.Google Scholar
Bogaards, P. and van der Kloot, W. (2002) Verb constructions in learners’ dictionaries. In: Braasch, A. and Povlsen, C. (eds.), Proceedings of the tenth Euralex international congress. Copenhagen: CST, 747–757.Google Scholar
Boulton, A. (2010) Learning outcomes from corpus consultation. In: Moreno Jaén, M., Serrano Valverde, F. and Calzada Pérez, M. (eds.), Exploring new paths in language pedagogy: Lexis and corpus-based language teaching. London: Equinox, 129–144.Google Scholar
Chan, A. (2012) Cantonese ESL learners’ use of grammatical information in a monolingual dictionary for determining the correct use of a target word. International Journal of Lexicography, 25(1): 68–94.Google Scholar
Davies, M. (2008) The Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA): 410+ million words, 1990-present. http://www.americancorpus.orgGoogle Scholar
Dziemianko, A. (2006) User-friendliness of verb syntax in pedagogical dictionaries of English. Tübingen: Max Niemeyer Verlag.Google Scholar
Frankenberg-Garcia, A. (2011) Beyond L1-L2 equivalents: Where do users of English as a foreign language turn for help? International Journal of Lexicography, 24(1): 97–123.Google Scholar
Frankenberg-Garcia, A. (2012a) Learners’ use of corpus examples. International Journal of Lexicography, 25(3): 273–296.Google Scholar
Frankenberg-Garcia, A. (2012b) Raising teachers’ awareness of corpora. Language Teaching, 45(4): 475–489.Google Scholar
Gast, D. (2010) Replication. In: Gast, D. (ed.), Single subject research methodology in behavioral sciences. New York: Routledge, 110–128.Google Scholar
Hanks, P. (1987) Definitions and explanations. In: Sinclair, J. (ed.), Looking up: An account of the COBUILD project in lexical computing. London/Glasgow: Collins ELT, 116–136.Google Scholar
Humblé, P. (2001) Dictionaries and language learners. Frankfurt: Haag & Herchen.Google Scholar
Izumi, S. (2002) Output, input enhancement, and the noticing hypothesis: An experimental study on ESL relativization. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 24: 541–577.Google Scholar
Johns, T. (1991) Should you be persuaded: Two examples of data-driven learning. In: Johns, T. and King, P. (eds.), Classroom concordancing. English Language Research Journal, 4: 1–16.Google Scholar
Kilgarriff, A., Husák, M., McAdam, K., Rundell, M. and Rychly, P. (2008) GDEX: Automatically finding good dictionary examples in a corpus. Proceedings of the 13 thEuralex international congress. Barcelona: Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 425–432.Google Scholar
Kilgarriff, A., Jakubíček, M., Pomikalek, J. and Whitelock, P. (2012) Setting up for corpus lexicography. Paper presented at the 15 thEURALEX international congress. University of Oslo, 7–11 August.Google Scholar
Laufer, B. (1993) The effects of dictionary definitions and examples on the comprehension of new L2 words. Cahiers de Lexicologie, 63: 131–142.Google Scholar
Leow, R. (2000) A study of the role of awareness in foreign language behavior. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 22: 557–584.Google Scholar
Mackey, A. (2006) Feedback, noticing and instructed second language learning. Applied Linguistics, 27: 405–530.Google Scholar
Nesi, H. (1996) The role of illustrative examples in productive dictionary use. Dictionaries, 17: 198–206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Porte, G. (2012) Introduction. In: Porte, G. (ed.), Replication research in applied linguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1–19.Google Scholar
Ranalli, J. (2013) The online strategy instruction of integrated dictionary skills and language awareness. Language Learning & Technology, 17(2): 75–99.Google Scholar
Schmidt, R. (1990) The role of consciousness in second language learning. Applied Linguistics, 11: 129–158.Google Scholar
Summers, D. (1988) The role of dictionaries in language learning. In: Carter, R. and McCarthy, M. (eds.), Vocabulary and language teaching. London: Longman, 111–125.Google Scholar
Summers, D. (ed.) (1996/2003) Longman dictionary of contemporary English (3rd and 4th editions). Harlow: Longman.Google Scholar
Van Patten, B. (1994) Explicit instruction and input processing. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 15: 225–241.Google Scholar