1. Marjolijn Verspoor Wander Lowie Martijn Wieling
A Dynamic Systems Perspective on Corpus Research and Second Language Development
Marjolijn Verspoor
Wander Lowie
Martijn Wieling

2. CDST in Second Language Development
CDST is a framework that focuses on how second language development evolves over time. Due to the iterative and nonlinear nature of development in the time dimension, evidence in this framework must be based on the identification of theoretical constructs (variables) of language development emerging from individual case studies.

3. GAMM – mixed effect with time dimension
Interactions between different variables for one person over time
CASE STUDY
Interactions between variables across different persons at one moment in time
GROUP STUDY
after Cattell (1952), see Molenaar (2015)
Mixed effect modelling

4. Theoretical constructs
Variability (developmental peaks and dips)
A large number of studies.
Interaction among variables
Lexicon vs Syntax
Bossano & van Geert (2007)
Caspi (2010)
Verspoor et al (2012) (Cross sectional studies)

5. 22 learners / 22 measurements
The study
22 learners / 22 measurements

6. L2 development
L2 can be operationalized as general proficiency (holistic scores).
Component systems at different levels of organization can be operationalized as
Syntactic complexity (MLT, DCT, NomDep)
Lexical complexity (MLW, Guiraud, Frequency)

7. Initial conditions: 22 Dutch L2 learners of English 12-13 years old
Similar scholastic ability
Same bilingual school experiences
Similar input

8. …Vlieland is a wonderful island with friendly inhabitants
…Vlieland is a wonderful island with friendly inhabitants. Our hotel was at the coast and we came from the harbour to the hotel by a TukTuk (A kind of car). The hotel was nice and there were seagulls everywhere. When we came back to the mainland, I almost fell of the boat (Oops….). This was at the end of the holiday.
Data Student 2
I like the first week at school the most, because I like playing games and we playing games in the building. First we doing team sports in the Gym building. I like the American Football the most. ….

9. …Vlieland is a wonderful island with friendly inhabitants
…Vlieland is a wonderful island with friendly inhabitants. Our hotel was at the coast and we came from the harbour to the hotel by a TukTuk (A kind of car). The hotel was nice and there were seagulls everywhere. When we came back to the mainland, I almost fell of the boat (Oops….). This was at the end of the holiday.
Data Student 2
I like the first week at school the most, because I like playing games and we playing games in the building. First we doing team sports in the Gym building. I like the American Football the most. ….

10. Hypotheses
Similar L2 learners with similar exposure will develop in similar ways.
Learners make gains in L2 proficiency
Learners make gains in syntactic measures
Learners make gains in lexical measures
Lexical development precedes syntactic development

11. Results group study

12. Holistic scores (mean rating)
Average first two – average last two measurements

13. Results individuals

14. Learners make gains in L2 proficiency (mean rating)

15. Learners make gains in L2 proficiency (mean rating)

16. Learners make gains in syntactic measures
MLTU (73%)
 Predictive values for a generalized additive model of the data.
DC/T (73%)
Predictive values for a generalized additive model of the data.

17. Learners make gains and lexical measures
Guiraud (68%)
MLW (77%)
Predictive values for a generalized additive model of the data.

18. Lexical development precedes syntactic development (MLTU x MLW)

19. Zooming in on two cases

20. Holistic score (mean rating)

21. Dynamic Relation lexicon x syntax

22. Dynamic Relation lexicon x syntax

23. Dynamic Relation lexicon x syntax

24. Hypotheses
Similar L2 learners with similar exposure will develop in similar ways.
Learners make gains in L2 proficiency
Learners make gains in syntactic measures
Learners make gains in lexical measures
Lexical development precedes syntactic development    

25. Discussion
Variability
Variation
Lexicon > syntax

26. Implications

27. Implications
Group studies are good to show very general tendencies in development.
Results cannot show actual development over time.
Results cannot be generalized to the individual level.
Individual case studies are good to show actual development over time.
Results can be assumed to hold for others if corroborated by replications .

28. Thank you!