A corpus-based analysis of differences in the use ofveryfor adjective amplification among native speakers and learners of English

Abstract

AbstractThis paper analyzes the use ofveryas an adjective amplifier by native speakers and advanced learners of English with diverse language backgrounds based on theInternational Corpus of Learner English(ICLE) and theLouvain Corpus of Native English Essays(LOCNESS). The study appliesMultifactorial Prediction and Deviation Analysis Using Regression/Random Forests(MuPDARF) to find differences between native speakers and advanced learners and evaluates which factors contribute to learners’ non-target-like use ofvery. The analysis finds language background and adjective-specific differences in the use ofverybetween learners and native speakers. It shows that collocational preferences of specific adjective types are the most important factor, which is interpreted to show that differences between native speakers and learners are predominantly dependent upon the collocational profiles of individual adjective types. This finding supports approaches that focus on teaching collocations and contextualizing word use.