A corpus-based study of vague language use by learners of Spanish in a study abroad context

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

This chapter seeks to demonstrate some of the potential contributions of a corpus-based approach to study abroad research. Drawing on the Spanish Learner Language Oral Corpora, the present analysis examines a set of vague expressions known as general extenders (GEs) (Overstreet 1999) utilized by undergraduate English L1 learners after a year abroad. Specifically, the analysis focuses on patterns emergent from the concordancing analysis of learner language production alongside four exploratory case studies of learners’ motives and dispositions towards their study abroad experience. The discussion draws parallels between the corpus-derived types, frequencies and pragmatic functions of GEs, and individual learner access to everyday language use in various study abroad situations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationSocial and Cultural Aspects of Language Learning in Study Abroad
EditorsCeleste Kinginger
PublisherJohn Benjamins Publishing Company
Pages299-331
Number of pages33
ISBN (Electronic)9789027271839
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameLanguage Learning and Language Teaching
Volume37
ISSN (Print)1569-9471

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Linguistics and Language

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