Exploring Topic Effect on Syntactic Complexity of English Writings
2019
This paper aims to explore
topiceffect on syntactic complexity in Chinese EFL learners’ and English native speakers’ writings. To this end, the paper examined 600 argumentative essays on two
topics, using 14 measures of syntactic complexity to investigate whether there is significant difference in
topiceffect on EFL writings and ENS writings. Four dimensions are included in these 14 syntactic
complexity measures, which are length of production unit, amount of subordination, amount of coordination and degree of phrasal sophistication. Results showed strong
topiceffect on both Chinese EFL writers and ENS writers in terms of length of production unit and particular structure. The
topiceffect differs in amount of coordination in that the Chinese EFL group produced different amount of coordination in the two
topics, while the ENS group did not show significant difference in this aspect.
Keywords:
-
Correction
-
Source
-
Cite
-
Save
3
References
0
Citations
NaN
KQI