Cover not available

Article published In: Corpus Linguistics and Education in Australia
Edited by Alexandra Garcia Murrago, Peter Crosthwaite and Monika Bednarek
[Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 43:2] 2020
► pp. 196–218

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload PDF
authorization required

How Learner Corpus Research can inform language learning and teaching

An analysis of adjective amplification among L1 and L2 English speakers

 | The University of Queensland
Published online: 3 July 2020
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/aral.00032.sch
Abstract
This study aims to exemplify how language teaching can benefit from learner corpus research (LCR). To this end, this study determines how L1 and L2 English speakers with diverse L1 backgrounds differ with respect to adjective amplification, based on the International Corpus of Learner English (ICLE) and the Louvain Corpus of Native English Essays (LOCNESS). The study confirms trends reported in previous research, in that L1 speakers amplify adjectives more frequently than L2 English speakers. In addition, the analysis shows that L1 and L2 English speakers differ substantially with respect to the collocational profiles of specific amplifier types and with respect to awareness of genre-specific constraints on amplifier use, and that even advanced L2 speakers tend to be unaware of stylistic constraints on adjective amplification because they model their academic output based on patterns generalized from informal conversation. These findings are useful for language teaching in that the data can be used to target L1-specific difficulties experienced by L2 English speakers.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Adjective amplification
  • 2.Previous research on L1 and L2 adjective amplification
  • 3.Data and methodology
    • 3.1Data sources and processing
    • 3.2Statistical methods
      • 3.2.1Covarying collexeme analysis
      • 3.2.2Configuration frequency analysis
  • 4.Results
  • 5.Discussion
  • Notes
  • References
References (51)
References
Bolinger, D. (1972). Degree words. The Hague: Mouton. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Breban, T., & Davidse, K. (2016). The history of very: The directionality of functional shift and (inter)subjectification. English Language and Linguistics, 20(2), 221–249. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Callies, M., & Paquot, M. (2015). Learner corpus research: An interdisciplinary field on the move. International Journal of Learner Corpus Research, 1(1), 1–6. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Department of Education and Training of the Australian Government. (2019). Adult Migrant English Program. Retrieved from [URL]
Edmonds, A., & Gudmestad, A. (2014). Your participation is greatly/highly appreciated: Amplifier collocations in L2 English. The Canadian Modern Language Review/La Revue canadienne des langues vivantes, 70(1), 76–102. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ellis, E. M. (2004). The invisible multilingual teacher: The contribution of language background to Australian ESL teachers’ professional knowledge and beliefs. International Journal of Multilingualism, 1(2), 90–108. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fallas Escobar, C., & Chaves Fernández, L. (2017). EFL learners’ development of voice in academic writing: Lexical bundles, boosters/hedges and stance-taking strategies. Education and Learning Research Journal, 151, 96–124.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Forsberg, F. (2010). Using conventional sequences in L2 French. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 48(1), 25–51. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Friginal, E., Lee, J. J., Polat, B., & Roberson, A. (2017). Exploring spoken English learner language using corpora: Learner talk. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Granger, S. (1993). The international corpus of learner English. In J. Aarts, P. de Haan, & N. Oostdijk (Eds.), English language corpora: Design, analysis and exploitation (pp. 57–69). Amsterdam: Rodopi.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1998a). Prefabricated patterns in advanced EFL writing: Collocations and formulae. In A. P. Cowie (Ed.), Phraseology: Theory, analysis, and applications (pp. 145–160). Oxford, UK: Clarendon.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1998b). The computer learner corpus: A versatile new source of data for SLA research. In S. Granger (Ed.), Learner English on computer (pp. 3–18). Addison Wesley Longman: London & New York.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2002). The international corpus of learner English (ICLE). Centre for English Corpus Linguistics, Université Catholique de Louvain. Retrieved from [URL]
(2009). The contribution of learner corpora to second language acquisition and language teaching: A critical evaluation. In K. Aijmer (Ed.), Corpora and language teaching (pp. 13–32). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2015). The contribution of learner corpora to reference and instructional materials design. In S. Granger, G. Gilquin, & F. Meunier (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of learner corpus research (pp. 485–510). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Granger, S., & Rayson, P. (1998). Automatic profiling of learner texts. In S. Granger (Ed.), Learner English on computer (pp. 119–141). London: Longman.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gries, S. T., & Stefanowitsch, A. (2004). Extending collostructional analysis: A corpus-based perspectives on ‘alternations’. International Journal of Corpus Linguistics, 9(1), 97–129. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hasselgård, H. (1999). [Review of the book Learner English on computer, by S. Granger]. ICAME Journal, 231, 148–52.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hendrikx, I., Van Goethem, K., & Wulff, S. (2019). Intensifying constructions in French speaking L2 learners of English and Dutch: Cross-linguistic influence and exposure effects. International Journal of Learner Corpus Research, 5(1), 63–103. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hilpert, M. (2006). Discussion note: Distinctive collexeme analysis and diachrony. Corpus Linguistics and Linguistic Theory, 2(2), 243–256. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hinkel, E. (2003). Adverbial markers and tone in L1 and L2 students’ writing. Journal of Pragmatics, 35(7), 1049–1068. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hornik, K. (2016). openNLP: Apache OpenNLP Tools Interface. Version 0.2–6. Retrieved from [URL]
Ito, R. & Tagliamonte, S. (2003). Well weird, right dodgy, very strange, really cool: Layering and recycling in English intensifiers. Language in Society, 321, 257–279. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kaszubski, P. (1998). Enhancing a written textbook: National perspective. In S. Granger (Ed.), Learners English on computer (pp. 172–185). London: Longman.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Krauth, J., & Lienert, G. A. (1973). Die Konfigurationsfrequenzanalyse und ihre Anwendung in Psychologie und Medizin. Freiburg: Alber.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Labov, W. (1972). Sociolinguistic patterns. Philadelphia PA: University of Philadelphia Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1985). Intensification. In D. Schiffirn (Ed.), Meaning, form and use in context: Linguistic applications (pp. 43–70). Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lorenz, G. R. (1998). Overstatement in advanced learners’ writing: Stylistic aspects of adjective intensification. In S. Granger (Ed.), Learner English on computer (pp. 53–66). London: Longman.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1999). Adjective intensification – learners versus native speakers: A corpus study of argumentative writing. Amsterdam: Rudopi.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Maddeaux, R., & Dinkin, A. (2017). Is like like like? Evaluating the same variant across multiple variables. Linguistics Vanguard, 3(1). Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mathews-Aydinli, J. (2008). Overlooked and understudied? A survey of current trends in research on adult English language learners. Adult Education Quarterly, 58(3), 198–213. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Méndez-Naya, B., & Pahta, P. (2010). Intensifiers in competition: The picture from early English medical writing. In I. Taavitsainen & P. Pahta (Eds.), Early modern English medical texts: Corpus description and studies (pp. 191–214). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Myles, F. (2005). Interlanguage corpora and second language acquisition research. Second Language Research, 21(4), 373–391. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2015). Second language acquisition theory and learner corpus research. In S. Granger, G. Gilquin, & F. Meunier (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of learner corpus research (pp. 309–332). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nevalainen, T., & Rissanen, M. (2002). Fairly pretty or pretty fair? On the development and grammaticalization of English downtoners. Language Sciences, 241, 359–380. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Paradis, C. (2008). Configurations, construals and change: Expressions of DEGREE. English Language and Linguistics, 12(2), 317–343. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Partington, A. (1993). Corpus evidence of language change: The case of intensifiers. In M. Baker, G. Francis, & E. Tognini-Bonelli (Eds.), Text and technology: In honour of John Sinclair (pp. 177–192). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Peters, H. (1994). Degree adverbs in early modern English. In D. Kastovsky (Ed.), Studies in early modern English (pp. 269–288). Berlin and New York: Mouton de Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
R Core Team. (2008). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. Retrieved from [URL]
Simon-Davies, J. (2018). Population and migration statistics in Australia. Canberra: Parliament of Australia. Retrieved from [URL]
Stefanowitsch, A., & Gries, S. T. (2003). Collostructions: Investigating the interaction between words and constructions. International Journal of Corpus Linguistics, 8(2), 209–243. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2005). Covarying collexemes. Corpus Linguistics and Linguistic Theory, 1(1), 1–43. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tagliamonte, S. (2008). So different and pretty cool! Recycling intensifiers in Toronto, Canada. English Language and Linguistics, 12(2), 361–394. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2012). Variationist sociolinguistics: Change, observation, interpretation. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tagliamonte, S., & Denis, D. (2014). Expanding the transmission/diffusion dichotomy: Evidence from Canada. Language, 90(1), 90–136. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Turcic, S. (2008). Needs assessment of international students in the City of Sydney. Project report. Sydney: The City of Sydney. Retrieved from [URL]
Wagner, S. (2017). Totally new and pretty awesome: Amplifier-adjective bigrams in GloWbE. Lingua, 2001, 63–83. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (4)

Cited by four other publications

Miao, Minghao & Chloé Diskin-Holdaway
2025. Variation in the Amplifier System Among Chinese L2 English Speakers in Australia. Languages 10:4 ► pp. 69 ff. DOI logo
Schweinberger, Martin
2025. A corpus‐based analysis of adjective amplification in Hong Kong, Indian and Philippine English. World Englishes 44:3 ► pp. 456 ff. DOI logo
Götz, Sandra & Sylviane Granger
2024. Learner corpus research for pedagogical purposes. International Journal of Learner Corpus Research 10:1 ► pp. 1 ff. DOI logo
[no author supplied]
2025. Corpus Linguistics for Language Learning Research [Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, 12], DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 1 december 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue