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Article published In: Study Abroad Research in Second Language Acquisition and International Education
Vol. 10:1 (2025) ► pp.123–153

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Multidimensional construct of lexical sophistication

The case of non-language majors in the context of English as a lingua franca study abroad

ORCiD logo with link | University of Split
 | University of Osijek
Published online: 6 January 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/sar.23013.mar
Abstract
This article documents language development in the context of studying abroad with English as the lingua franca. In particular, it examines whether and how lexical sophistication in English as a foreign language changes during a semester abroad. Given the advances in the conceptualization and operationalization of lexical sophistication, this study applies indicators of lexical sophistication that have not previously been used in study abroad research. A statistically significant improvement was found in two measures of lexical sophistication in oral production — familiarity and meaningfulness — and in one measure in written production — meaningfulness. Comparing the differences between the pre- and post-test results showed that respondents performed better in the oral production in terms of range and familiarity, that is, they produced more lexis that occurs in fewer texts and is less familiar, while they performed better in the written production in terms of imageability, in other words, they used less imageable lexis.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Literature review
    • 2.1The role of lexical sophistication in lexical competence
    • 2.2Lexical development in study abroad studies
    • 2.3Lexical sophistication in study abroad studies
    • 2.4Measures of lexical sophistication
  • 3.Methodology
    • 3.1Goal and research questions
    • 3.2Participants
    • 3.3Materials and tools
    • 3.4Procedure
      • 3.4.1Operationalization of lexical sophistication
      • 3.4.2Statistical analysis
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Oral production
    • 4.2Written production
    • 4.3Comparison
  • 5.Discussion
    • 5.1Limitations and further studies
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Note
  • References
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