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In:Approaches and Methods in French Second Language Acquisition Research:
Edited by Martin Howard
[Research Methods in Applied Linguistics 9] 2025
► pp. 95–125

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Chapter 5
Examining vocabulary knowledge in languages other than English

The case of French

 | University of Gothenburg | Østfold University College
Published online: 3 March 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/rmal.9.05lin
Abstract
Research on vocabulary knowledge has a long tradition within the SLA field, with a steadily growing number of publications since the 1980s (e.g. Bardel et al., 2013; Carter, 1987; Daller et al., 2007; Milton, 2009; Nation, 2001; Schmitt & McCarthy, 1997). However, as emerges from a recent handbook on vocabulary studies (Webb, 2020a), most previous research concerns L2 English, with relatively few studies investigating vocabulary learning in languages other than English. To what extent is it possible to adapt English tests and instruments to other languages? How can we compare results between languages as far as vocabulary knowledge is concerned? This chapter will present an overview of studies on vocabulary knowledge in L2 French by focusing on the approaches and methods that have been used and by comparing to L2 English. It is well known that vocabulary knowledge is complex, including many different aspects such as the word’s form, its meaning and how it can be used, as suggested by Nation (2001). Studies on L2 French have to date mainly focused on vocabulary size, lexical richness and vocabulary depth. The chapter will systematically review and critically discuss the studies’ research designs and methodologies.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Research methods in L2 French vocabulary acquisition studies
    • Testing vocabulary knowledge in L2 French
      • Testing receptive vocabulary size
      • Testing productive vocabulary knowledge and collocations
      • Testing vocabulary depth
      • Research designs in vocabulary testing
    • Examining vocabulary knowledge in learner production
  • Discussion and future directions
  • Conclusion
  • Note
  • References
  • Appendix
References (80)
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