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In:Applying Corpora in Teaching and Learning Romance Languages
Edited by Henry Tyne and Stefania Spina
[Studies in Corpus Linguistics 122] 2025
► pp. 180–204

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Chapter 8
Data-driven learning effects on the development of Italian L2 phraseological competence

The combined role of semantic transparency and frequency

 | University for Foreigners of Perugia
Published online: 20 November 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/scl.122.08for
Abstract
This chapter presents a study focused on the analysis of second language phraseological competence development in light of a data-driven learning (DDL) intervention and in the context of Italian language learning courses. The analysis focuses on the role that specific properties (i.e., semantic transparency and frequency) of the phraseological units considered (i.e., collocations) play in assessing the effects of DDL. The study involved a total of 123 first language Chinese learners of Italian and was based on a between-groups design. The research questions of the study move from a general picture of DDL effects (How does DDL influence the learning of collocations overall?) to a more nuanced one (What effect does DDL have on learning semantically opaque and semantically transparent collocations, also in relation to frequency?). The study demonstrates the value in considering the linguistic properties of the learning aims, in evaluating the overall effects of a learning approach such as DDL. Implications related to DDL research methodology are discussed.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The role of semantic transparency and frequency in learning collocations in an L2: Literature review
    • 2.1Semantic transparency
    • 2.2Frequency
  • 3.The potential of concordance-based data-driven learning: Rationale and aims of the study
  • 4.Method
    • 4.1Study design
    • 4.2Participants
    • 4.3Identification and coding of collocations
    • 4.4Development of the phraseological competence test
    • 4.5Data analysis
  • 5.Results
  • 6.Discussion
  • 7.Concluding remarks
  • Note
  • References
  • Appendix
References (58)
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