Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 14. Number 1 March 2023 Pp.253-265
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol14no1.16
High-Proficiency L1 and L2 English Learners’ Morphological Words in Writing
Xixiang Lou
English Department, School of Foreign Studies
Minnan Normal University, Zhangzhou, China
Corresponding Author: lou_xx@163.com
Guanghui Ma
School of Foreign Languages and Cultures
Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
Received:11/04/2022 Accepted: 02/05/2023 Published: 03/24/2023
Abstract:
English differs from other languages in morphology, which may cause trouble in EFL learning. The interesting topic is whether ESL learners can obtain the same level of morphology in their English learning as native English speakers. The study explores whether high-proficiency EFL learners differ from native EL1 learners in writing using root words, inflected words, and derived words. This article reported on a comparative study between Advanced EFL learners (TOEFL Testees (n = 318)) and native English learners (writers of the Louvain Corpus of Native English Essays (n = 176)) by lexical frequency profile analysis on their use of root words, inflected words, and derived words in writing. The findings suggest that there are significant differences between the two groups. TOEFL writers used a much higher proportion of root words but a much lower proportion of inflected and derived words than native English learners. The findings will expose the differences between EFL learners and native L2 learners in word learning and contribute to L2 language teaching and learning theoretically and practically.
Keywords: high-proficiency EFL learners, native English speakers, productive morphological words, comparison
Cite as: Lou, X., & Ma, G. (2023). High-Proficiency L1 and L2 English Learners’ Morphological Words in Writing
Arab World English Journal, 14 (1) 253-265.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol14no1.16
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