Complex Language Research Articles

The Influence of AI: The Revolutionary Effects of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Sector

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is growing as it becomes more prevalent in modern business and everyday life. It is frequently regarded as a significant technological advancement in the present period. In recent times, the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics have been utilised in the domain of mobile health (m-health) to establish a highly efficient healthcare system. Modern medical research utilises diverse and poorly understood data, including electronic health records (EHRs), medical imaging, and complex language that is widely unorganised. The growth of mobile applications, together with healthcare systems, is a significant factor leading to the presence of disorganised and unstructured datasets. The enhanced accessibility of diverse datasets and advanced computer techniques like machine learning can enable researchers to usher in a new era of highly efficient genetic therapy. This review paper has clarified the role of machine learning algorithms in healthcare systems.

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, THE ANGLO-SAXON AND THE AMERICAN CULTURES IN THE BULGARIAN REVIVAL LINGUISTIC SITUATION

The article views the place of the English language and the role of the Anglo-Saxon and the American cultural influences in the processes which formed the specific Bulgarian linguistic situation during the Bulgarian Revival. The topicality of the issue can be explained by the necessity of studying “the linguistic situation” as a complex phenomenon with conglomerate conceptual projections, combining procedure, temporal dimension, language and educational policies, as well as cultural influences in the geographical areal with dynamically changing boundaries. The methodology combines the traditional historiographical approach with linguodidactological archeology and elements of empruntological analysis in order to trace interlanguage and linguocaultural transfers. Bulgarian intellectuals’ attempts at building a unified national language and educational policies are briefly viewed, putting emphasis on the place of the English language in the system of Bulgarian foreign language teaching. The beginning of the empruntologic influence of English lexis on Bulgarian vocabulary is assumed to be in 1829 when the first use of the word “ром” (rom) for rum (a drink imported from the British colonies in the Ottoman Empire) is registered. An attempt is made to present the quantitative content of the Bulgarian intellectual elite that speaks English during the period. The translation reception of Anglo-Saxon and American literature is reconstructed.

Cognitive domains affected post-COVID-19; a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This review aims to characterize the pattern of post-COVID-19 cognitive impairment, allowing better prediction of impact on daily function to inform clinical management and rehabilitation. A systematic review and meta-analysis of neurocognitive sequelae following COVID-19 was conducted, following PRISMA-S guidelines. Studies were included if they reported domain-specific cognitive assessment in patients with COVID-19 at >4 weeks post-infection. Studies were deemed high-quality if they had >40 participants, utilized healthy controls, had low attrition rates and mitigated for confounders. Five of the seven primary Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) cognitive domains were assessed by enough high-quality studies to facilitate meta-analysis. Medium effect sizes indicating impairment in patients post-COVID-19 versus controls were seen across executive function (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.45), learning and memory (SMD -0.55), complex attention (SMD -0.54) and language (SMD -0.54), with perceptual motor function appearing to be impacted to a greater degree (SMD -0.70). A narrative synthesis of the 56 low-quality studies also suggested no obvious pattern of impairment. This review found moderate impairments across multiple domains of cognition in patients post-COVID-19, with no specific pattern. The reported literature was significantly heterogeneous, with a wide variety of cognitive tasks, small sample sizes and disparate initial disease severities limiting interpretability. The finding of consistent impairment across a range of cognitive tasks suggests broad, as opposed to domain-specific, brain dysfunction. Future studies should utilize a harmonized test battery to facilitate inter-study comparisons, whilst also accounting for the interactions between COVID-19, neurological sequelae and mental health, the interplay between which might explain cognitive impairment.

Tweeting for change: social media narratives for sustainable service

PurposeThis interdisciplinary study aims to analyze how service organizations communicate sustainable beliefs in their social media narratives and use them to generate brand awareness, customer recognition and ongoing demand for sustainable service.Design/methodology/approachA two-phase exploratory analysis of 10,342 tweets from 2019–2020 was conducted by sustainable global corporations to identify best practices for their social media teams operating within a service-based business model. First, the significant themes were identified using an unguided machine learning approach of three types of firms: services, goods and mixed. Next, the full set of tweets with linguistic sentiment analysis was analyzed followed by a deeper view of the services-based organizations based on their strategic focus (business-to-business [B2B] versus mixed).FindingsThe findings indicate that tweets that appear to create the highest customer engagement are characterized as having high levels of analytical language, high clout (i.e. are socially relevant), a positive tone, a high number of words and a high number of words per sentence. On the other hand, having complex language in terms of six-letter words does not seem to associate with customer engagement. The last level of analysis shows that B2B services-based corporations with positive tone and higher word count exhibit higher levels of retweets. Implications include providing rational and informational tweets to increase engagement and highlight societal relevance.Originality/valueClimate change has negative consequences on human and physical capital, and ecosystems across the globe. This study provides specific recommendations for how services corporations can increase their sustainable communications and actions.Practical implicationsThe key implication of our research is that corporations must strategically design social media narratives about climate change as part of their online branding and communications process.

Mean Length of Utterance: A study of early language development in four Southern Bantu languages.

Mean Length of Utterance (MLU) has been widely used to measure children's early language development in a variety of languages. This study investigates the utility of MLU to measure language development in four agglutinative and morphologically complex Southern Bantu languages. Using a variant of MLU, MLU3, based on the three longest sentences children produced, we analysed the utterances of 448 toddlers (16-32 months) collected using the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory, a parent-report tool. MLU3, measured in words (MLU3-w) and morphemes (MLU3-m), significantly correlated with age and other indices of language growth (e.g., grammar and vocabulary). MLU3 measures also accounted for significant variance in language development particular morphosyntactic development. Our results suggest that MLU3-m is a more sensitive measure than MLU3-w. We conclude that MLU measured in morphemes provides a useful addition to other indices of language development in these kinds of morphologically complex languages.

Holistic approaches to the study of emotions and identity in language learning and use: Complex dynamic systems theory, language ecology, and post-structuralism

In the field of English applied linguistics, learners and their learning processes including their psychological and emotional responses to second language acquisition (SLA) were traditionally researched in isolation following the psychometric tradition. By contrast, learners’ idiosyncratic, and often life-changing experiences that shape their identities are usually examined holistically drawing on interviews and case studies. In this paper, I discuss how I brought under the same roof these two seemingly incompatible research traditions to shed light on language learners’ multilingual and multicultural identity construction. The paper draws on the basic tenets that language and culture are inherently intertwined in SLA (Kramsch 1998) and that language learning is embodied (Damasio 1994) generating powerful emotional responses to language learning and use. In the paper, I delineate three holistic approaches to the study of emotions and identity in SLA including complex dynamic systems theory (CDST), language ecology, and post-structuralism. These approaches have three important principles in common. (1) They look at learners holistically in their complexity and entirety. (2) They perceive learner-intrinsic and contextual factors as interconnected, dynamic, and changing over time. (3) They examine learners and their learning processes in response to environmental stimuli in the form of interactions with others, learning materials, the learning environment, languages spoken by the individual, as well as the educational and sociocultural context. Following the introduction of the three theories, I present my latest research results drawing on these theoretical underpinnings. I explain how I conceptualized learners’ identity construction as a complex dynamic system of individual differences and how I detected novel patterns of psychological behavior using CDST in online education. Then, I discuss the impact of language socialization on language learning and use drawing on case studies. Finally, I present examples of powerful emotional and identity responses to language learning and use, the transformative potential of SLA, and the language learner’s imagined L2 habitus (Fekete 2018) pinpointing how learners speak, think, feel, and behave differently when they switch to different languages. / Keywords: emotions, identity, language learning, the psychology of learners, complex dynamic systems theory, language ecology, post-structuralism, holistic approaches, online education, language socialization, the learner’s imagined L2 habitus, online education

Scaffolding Expository Reading with Picture Books: Strategies for Comprehending Informational Language

AbstractInformational texts present complex content using language that is simultaneously technical, abstract, dense, and authoritative. This article describes practical strategies to support teachers in using informational picture books to prepare upper elementary school students for navigating the complex language demands necessitated by expository reading. These strategies include morphological analysis, spotlighting discipline‐specific vocabulary, sentence completion, unpacking nominalizations, identifying actions and their agents, deconstructing noun phrases, paraphrasing complex sentences, and syntactic anatomy. They are designed for classroom teachers to support their implementation of authentic informational texts.

Artificial Intelligence in Project Management: A Study of The Role of Ai-Powered Chatbots in Project Stakeholder Engagement

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a cornerstone in the evolution of project management. Its capabilities extend beyond simple automation, fostering improved decision-making processes and enhancing collaborative efforts. Among the various AI tools available, chatbots stand out as particularly transformative for project management. This study delves into the role of AI-powered chatbots in project stakeholder engagement, a critical aspect of successful project management. Chatbots, powered by sophisticated AI algorithms, can provide continuous support and interaction with project stakeholders. This is particularly vital in managing complex projects where continuous communication and prompt responses can significantly influence project success. The study examines how these AI-driven chatbots facilitate stakeholder engagement, focusing on key benefits such as improved communication, increased stakeholder satisfaction, and better overall project outcomes. Through a detailed analysis, we have identified that chatbots enhance communication by offering stakeholders immediate, personalized responses, thereby reducing response times and improving the efficiency of information exchange. This immediacy and personalization contribute to heightened stakeholder satisfaction, as stakeholders feel their concerns and queries are addressed promptly and effectively. Furthermore, our findings suggest that these improvements in stakeholder engagement directly correlate with enhanced project outcomes, including better adherence to timelines, improved project quality, and increased likelihood of meeting project objectives. However, the deployment of chatbots in project management is not without its challenges. One significant hurdle is the need for advanced natural language processing (NLP) capabilities. Effective chatbots must understand and process complex human language nuances to interact effectively with stakeholders. Another challenge observed is the potential for chatbots to become disruptive or annoying. This can occur when chatbots fail to provide relevant or accurate information, or when their interaction style does not align with stakeholder expectations. In conclusion, AI-powered chatbots hold substantial promise for revolutionizing stakeholder engagement in project management. While they present remarkable benefits in improving communication, stakeholder satisfaction, and project outcomes, there are challenges that need to be addressed. These include enhancing NLP capabilities and fine-tuning the interaction style of chatbots to suit diverse stakeholder groups. With these improvements, AI-powered chatbots could significantly contribute to the success of various projects, marking a new era in project management where AI plays a pivotal role in stakeholder engagement and overall project success.

Editor's note and erratum for the Research Article: "Societies of strangers do not speak less complex languages" by Shcherbakova etal.

Editor's note and erratum for the Research Article: "Societies of strangers do not speak less complex languages" by Shcherbakova etal.

Barriers and facilitators of lifestyle management among adult South Asian migrants living with chronic diseases: A mixed-methods systematic review

Background and aimSouth Asian migrants have a higher prevalence of chronic diseases than Caucasians. Despite much literature that has explored challenges in chronic disease management amongst the South Asian population in the past decades, their chronic disease management is still suboptimal. Understanding their determinants of disease management behaviour using the Theoretical Domains Framework will inform the development of a culturally sensitive intervention relevant to consumer-end-users. This study aimed to synthesise qualitative and quantitative studies on chronic disease management among adult South Asian immigrants. MethodsA mixed-methods systematic review was conducted using electronic databases. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool assessed the quality of the included studies. Quantitative data were transformed into qualitative data and analysed thematically. Subthemes were mapped in the Theoretical Domains Framework presenting barriers and facilitators under each theme. Results18293 studies were identified, of which 37 studies were included. The barriers and facilitators identified were categorised into four overarching themes: patient-provider interaction and relationship (e.g., complex language use by health professionals), the impact of migration (e.g., weather conditions had an impact on engagement with physical activity), heritage-based practices (e.g., an obligation to consume energy-dense food in social gatherings), and chronic disease management strategies (e.g., lack understanding of appropriate disease management strategies). ConclusionThis review provides a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of chronic disease management among South Asian migrants and insights into developing multifaceted interventions to address barriers to chronic disease management, guiding the healthcare professionals in helping overcome South Asians perceived barriers to managing chronic disease in the host countries.

Inequities in primary liver cancer in Europe: The state of play

The liver cancer burden in Europe is increasing and to improve health outcomes equitably, it is crucial to investigate how social determinants of health (SDoH) affect liver cancer risk factors and access to care. This paper summarises the available evidence on the differential distribution of liver cancer risk factors, incidence, and health outcomes in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom from an SDoH perspective. Vulnerable and marginalised populations have low socio-economic and educational backgrounds and are the most affected by liver cancer risk factors. Reasons for this include that access to hepatitis B virus vaccination varies, while viral hepatitis screening, harm reduction, and treatment access are limited. Additionally, alcohol-related liver disease remains prevalent among individuals with low education, insecure employment, economic instability, migrants, and deprived populations. Moreover, significant variation exists across Europe in the proportion of adults with steatotic liver disease, overweight/obesity, and diabetes, based on geographical area, gender, socio-economic, educational background, and density of ultra-processed foods outlets. Inequities in cirrhosis mortality rates have been reported, with the highest death rates among individuals living in socio-economically disadvantaged areas and those with lower educational levels. Furthermore, insufficient healthcare access for key populations with primary liver cancer is influenced by complex healthcare systems, stigmatisation, discrimination, low education, language barriers, and fear of disclosure. These challenges contribute to the liver cancer care pathway inequities. Future studies are needed to explore the different SDoH-interlinked effects on liver cancer incidence and outcomes in European countries. The ultimate goal is to develop evidence-based multilevel public health interventions that reduce the SDoH impact in precipitating and perpetuating a disproportionate liver cancer level among specific populations.

Chat GPT: From Natural Language Processing to Responsible AI - Implications, Challenges, and Future Developments

This research paper provides a comprehensive overview of Chat GPT, a cutting- edge natural language processing technology that has rapidly gained popularity recently. With the ability to generate human-like responses and a growing capacity to understand complex language and contextual nuances, Chat GPT has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with machines and greatly enhance communication and productivity across a wide range of industries and fields. The paper covers the background and current state of Chat GPT, including its architecture, training process, and applications. It highlights the advancements made in the development of the technology, particularly the introduction of the latest version, GPT-4, which has over 100 trillion parameters compared to just 175 billion of GPT- 3.5 (500 times). It can even generate output (text, art, etc.) that is nearly indistinguishable from that made by a human. In addition to its potential benefits, the paper also examines the ethical, social, economic, and technical implications of Chat GPT. It also identifies concerns around privacy and data security, the potential for the technology to exacerbate existing biases and inequalities, and the risk of misuse or unintended consequences. It is crucial that these challenges are addressed to ensure that Chat GPT is developed and used in a responsible and beneficial manner. Furthermore, the paper discusses the regulations and policies that must be implemented to ensure the responsible development and use of Chat GPT. It emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability, as well as the need to protect users' rights and promote fair access to the technology. The paper also explores the future developments of Chat GPT, including improvements in multilingual capabilities, emotional intelligence, and personalization. It also highlights the potential for Chat GPT to continue to evolve and improve, particularly with regards to contextual understanding and integration with human assistance. Keywords: Chat GPT, natural language processing, GPT - 4, AI, ethics, regulations, future developments, challenges, limitations, applications, multilingual capabilities, emotional intelligence, personalization.

ANALISIS PROBLEMATIKA PADA KETRAMPILAN MENULIS DAN MENGGAMBAR SISWA KELAS II SEKOLAH DASAR NEGERI 1 WONOGIRI

Early writing skills are a critical aspect in a child's language development. This article provides an overview of early writing skills and identifies several challenges often encountered in developing writing abilities among children. The importance of early writing skills as the foundation for language learning and communication is the main focus. This stage involves introducing letter forms, fine motor training, and the ability to connect simple letters into meaningful words. Proficient writing skills serve as the basis for more complex language abilities in the future. However, there are several challenges faced in developing early writing skills in children. One of them is the lack of attention from parents and educators regarding the importance of these writing skills. Insufficient support and appropriate stimulation during the initial learning stage can hinder a child's writing development. Additionally, another challenge is the difficulty experienced by some children in overcoming fine motor obstacles. Their untrained hand-eye coordination makes it challenging to form letters clearly and neatly koordinasi tangan dan mata yang belum terlatih membuat mereka kesulitan dalam membentuk huruf-huruf dengan jelas dan teratur.

Narrative Intervention for Preschoolers Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing Using Listening and Spoken Language: A Pilot Study.

This pilot study aimed to examine the effects of a caregiver-supported, narrative-based intervention program on the story retelling skills of a group of preschoolers who are deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH) using listening and spoken language (LSL). A concurrent multiple baseline design across participants was used to determine the effect of a narrative intervention on the story retelling skills of three preschool-age participants who demonstrated complex language delays. Their primary caregivers also functioned as participants. The 6-week narrative intervention program was implemented using a caregiver coaching model during individual therapy sessions. The dependent variable probes were administered twice per week across phases to assess the preschool participants' story retelling skills, including story grammar, complexity, and completeness. Social validity was also evaluated using a caregiver questionnaire. A functional relation was demonstrated between the intervention and story retelling across all three preschool participants with notable increases in the inclusion of story grammar elements and episodic completeness. All three participants maintained scores above baseline levels on dependent variable probes across the 6-week maintenance period. Social validity was strong according to the results of a caregiver questionnaire completed at the conclusion of the intervention. These findings offer preliminary support for the use of a caregiver-supported, narrative-based intervention program to improve storytelling and retelling skills in preschoolers who are D/HH using LSL.

Doctor Patient Type of Language Used and Tuberculosis Treatment Adherence in Kibera Informal Settlement in Nairobi County, Kenya

Purpose: To explore the type of language used on tuberculosis treatment adherence in an informal settlement in Nairobi County, Kenya.
 Methodology: This was by a descriptive qualitative research design. The sample size was 67 and comprised 10 healthcare workers and 57 TB patients. Purposive sampling technique was used to sample the participants. The study conducted 37 unstructured in-depth interviews and 3 focus group discussions. Data analysis was conducted by first translating the data, then transcribing the verbatim of the in-depth unstructured interviews and focus group discussions. The transcribed data was later analyzed using thematic analysis. Data was presented using tables, bar charts and pie charts.
 Findings: The findings of the study indicated that majority of the tuberculosis patients found that the type of language used by the healthcare workers when communicating with them determined whether they would adhere to treatment or not. If the language used was not well understood by the patient or if the healthcare worker used complex language, then the patient was not likely to adhere to treatment. The findings further indicated that more than half of the patients were fluent in Swahili language while the remaining patients only had basic knowledge of the language. Sixty percent that is 34 of the participants were fluent in Swahili language whereas thirty- eight percent that is 22 patients had basic knowledge of the language, and one did not understand the language and opted to communicate with the help of an interpreter. Seventy percent that is 40 of the patients indicated that when the healthcare workers communicated with them in simple language they were more likely to adhere to TB treatment. Findings from the healthcare workers indicated that Swahili was the preferred language used by both the healthcare workers and the tuberculosis patients. If a patient did not understand Swahili language, the healthcare workers would look for an interpreter who would then translate to the patient the required information. The use of complex medical language was only used when the healthcare workers were communicating amongst themselves.
 Unique Contribution to Theory and Practice and Policy: The constructs of the theories informed the study in terms of treatment adherence by emphasizing the benefits of seeking healthcare early. On practice, healthcare workers needed to be aware of type of language used when interacting with their patients as they are likely to affect their patients’ adherence to treatment. Based on these findings, policymakers should ensure that all healthcare workers should use simple language that is, the use of plain common words to make it easier for the patients to understand. In addition, any health messages, appointment cards or any other TB information whether spoken or written meant for the patients, should be designed in a language that is simple for the patient to comprehend.

PHYSICAL THEATER AND THE FORMULA FOR INTERPRETING BODY LANGUAGE CULTURE

The narrative nature of the existence of dramorealism is gradually giving way to more relevant forms of physical theater, which relies on a complex but most understandable language - body language. The total nature of this turn is explained by the reactivity of bodily kinetics in the transmission of emotions, in conveying the meanings of any narrative and cultural subtleties. Body language is the most versatile way of communication that overcomes any language barriers. In physical theater, actors use their bodies as a powerful tool to convey meaning, relying on movement, gestures, and facial expressions to "tell" their stories. The return to linguistic archaism acquires a total character in modern productions. Thanks to the universal kinetics of body language, physical theater becomes understandable to people from different cultures and social strata and promotes deeper communication and mutual understanding between performers and viewers. Body language is a visual informant, inextricably linked to all spheres of human interaction and functioning, ensuring the minimization of information losses in conveying the most complex, and sometimes obscure meanings. The analysis of cross-cultural studies devoted to the phenomenon of body language in physical theater allows us to reveal and evaluate the cultural nuances inherent in this expressive art form. After all, it is known that the same gesture in different cultures can have completely different meanings, so there is a need for a deeper study of the psychology and specifics of non-verbal communication to prevent undesirable critical circumstances for a person. A different order of communication of the physical theater acquires the features of a visual theater, in which the viewer is the main interpreter. An interpreter of a mobile, constantly changing world created within the boundaries of the viewer's vision. Just as it is impossible for any one universal concept or way of thinking to dominate in science, no art form can claim to have complete knowledge of its subject. Hence the need to understand the basics of body language, to understand its role in the overall development of the human community, and theatrical art in particular. In particular, knowledge of such key universals of non-verbal communication as handshake, hand gestures, eye contact, physical contact, head movement, sitting position, etc. effective body language tools.

Intelectuais e jogos de linguagem: o discurso sobre a educação primária na I conferência nacional de educação (1927)

ABSTRACT This article has as its object the educational discourse enunciated in the First National Conference on Education (I CNE), organized by the Brazilian Association of Education (BAE), whose central theme was primary education. We start from the premise that BAE and its conferences were privileged places to project an intelligentsia authorized to talk about the problems of national education. The sources used refer to documents related to BAE and the I CNE, with emphasis on the 113 theses presented and discussed at the event. Regarding methodology, we have opted for an interlocution with the history of intellectuals and intellectual history, especially the contributions of linguistic contextualism to understand the language practiced in the I CNE. In the conclusions, we characterize educational discourse as a complex language, which has at its horizon the combination of concepts derived from the medical-sanitarian, civic-nationalist and religious discourses.

The sustainability effects of two reading interventions on Saudi nursing students' comprehension of scientific research.

Scientific literature is presented in complex language, most frequently in English, and includes technical jargon that represents a challenge to comprehension of an English as a foreign language (EFL) nursing student. Yet scientific literature is a powerful and trustworthy source of evidence to guide nursing practice. The aim is to examine two reading interventions (Translation vs Synthesization) and to determine which one produces long-term sustainability effects in scientific research reading comprehension. A two-group posttest-only randomized comparative design was used in which 120 participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Several instruments were used to collect the data. Study findings showed that the synthesization group significantly produced better results when compared with the translation group on both the immediate (p = 0.01) and the delayed (p = 0.013) reading comprehension tests. It shows also that gender differences have a significant impact on reading comprehension with a favor to males in the long-term reading comprehension outcome (p = 0.038) of synthesization and females in the short-term reading comprehension outcome (p = 0.015) of translation. English proficiency was significant with determination, metacognitive, and social skills in the synthesization group (p = 0.00, p = 0.01, p = 0.007 respectively). The results suggested that synthesization could be an effective reading approach in improving EFL nursing students' reading comprehension of scientific literature.

Sepedi Language Speakers’ Perceptions and Experiences of South Africa’s Consumer Protection Act, with Specific Reference to the Banking Industry

The 2008 Consumer Protection Act (CPA) mandates clear communication in business interactions, emphasising plain language tailored to the target audience. This study explores how Sepedi-speaking customers in the banking sector perceive the CPA’s effectiveness, particularly in regard to language rights as mandated in Section 22 of the Act. Through semi-structured interviews with nine participants, three key themes emerged. Firstly, using Sepedi facilitated comfortable communication and informed financial decisions. Participants reported feeling more empowered to make sound choices when information was presented in their preferred language. Secondly, the need for easily understandable documentation was crucial, particularly for those who struggle with legal jargon. Complex language can hinder consumer understanding and disadvantage those with limited knowledge and low levels of literacy. Finally, the study highlights the importance of consumer rights awareness and fair treatment from service providers. Regardless of their language proficiency or knowledge level, all consumers deserve honest and transparent interactions. These findings underscore the crucial role of clear language in empowering consumers and fostering fair market practices.

Noun phrase complexity and second language Chinese proficiency: An analysis of narratives by Korean learners of Chinese

This study examined differences in the overall noun phrase (NP) complexity and the use of specific types of NP modifiers among Korean learners of Chinese as a second language (CSL) at different proficiency levels and first language (L1) Chinese speakers. Our data consisted of a corpus of 134 narratives produced by 103 Korean CSL learners (33 beginner, 37 intermediate, and 33 advanced) and 31 L1 Chinese speakers on the same topic. Each narrative was manually analyzed using seven measures of overall NP complexity and 26 measures based on specific types of NP modifiers. Two measures of overall NP complexity (i.e., complex NP ratio and total length of all complex premodifiers) significantly discriminated all learner proficiency levels. The frequency of several types of NP modifiers consistently decreased or increased from lower to higher proficiency levels, while that of several others showed cross-proficiency fluctuations. Advanced learners demonstrated comparable levels of overall NP complexity as well as similar frequency of usage of specific types of NP modifiers as L1 Chinese speakers, with the exception that the latter used significantly more multiple modifiers. Our findings have useful implications for L2 Chinese writing syntactic complexity research and L2 Chinese writing pedagogy.