A Complex Dynamic Systems Theory Perspective on Speaking in Second Language Development

Lowie, Wander; Verspoor, Marjolijn

doi:10.4324/9781003022497-5

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Rather, it is essential to closely examine the nature of this variation to determine what insights it may yield into the L2 speech learning process. In fact, there is a growing awareness of the value of studying individual learning trajectories in other aspects of L2 speaking as evidenced by the increasingly high profile of Complex Dynamic Systems Theory in L2 research (Lowie and Verspoor, 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability in L2 Vowel Production: Different Elicitation Methods Affect Individual Speakers Differently

Munro

2022

Front. Psychol.

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Elicitation methods are known to influence second language speech production. For teachers and language assessors, awareness of such effects is essential to accurate interpretations of testing outcomes. For speech researchers, understanding why one method gives better performance than another may yield insights into how second-language phonological knowledge is acquired, stored, and retrieved. Given these concerns, this investigation compared L2 vowel intelligibility on two elicitation tasks and determined the degree to which differences generalized across vowels, vowels in context, lexical items, and individual speakers. The dependent variable was the intelligibility of Cantonese speakers' productions of English /i I u ℧/ in varying phonetic environments. In a picture-naming task, the speakers produced responses without an auditory prompt. In a second task–interrupted repetition–they heard exemplars of the same targets without pictures, and repeated each one after counting aloud to 10, a step intended to disrupt their short-term auditory store and therefore prevent simple mimicry. For target words with scores below 80% on picture naming, mean intelligibility was more than 10 points higher on interrupted repetition. However, that difference did not generalize across conditions or across speakers. Thus, although it is technically accurate to say that, on average, interrupted repetition yielded better vowel intelligibility than did picture naming, that observation requires a great deal of qualification, particularly because of individual speaker differences. The outcomes are interpreted in terms of their relevance to language assessment and phonetic learning.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability in L2 Vowel Production: Different Elicitation Methods Affect Individual Speakers Differently

Munro

2022

Front. Psychol.

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“…Second language (L2) speaking development, a valuable but long-neglected topic (Lowie & Verspoor, 2022 ), has gained research attention in the recent decade (Ferrari, 2012 ; Polat & Kim, 2014 ; Sun & Zhang, 2022 ; Vercellotti, 2017 ; Yu & Lowie, 2020 ). While these studies confirmed the view of Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST) that intra-individual variabilities and inter-individual differences exist in complexity, accuracy and fluency (CAF) development, the dynamic relationship between L2 speaking CAF development and individual difference factors was rarely investigated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Development of Accuracy and Fluency in Second Language (L2) Speaking Related to Self-Efficacy Through Online Scaffolding: A Latent Growth Curve Modeling Analysis

Cha

Zhang

2023

J Psycholinguist Res

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This longitudinal study made the first attempt to employ Latent Growth Curve Modeling to analyze the development of L2 speaking accuracy and fluency through online scaffolding as well as the dynamic relationship between L2 speaking performance and self-efficacy. From the perspective of Complex Dynamic Systems Theory, it tracked the development of 45 Chinese undergraduates’ English-speaking accuracy, fluency, self-efficacy for accuracy (SEA) and self-efficacy for fluency (SEF) over one semester of online teaching (six observations). Results show that speaking accuracy, SEA and SEF all improved significantly, but speaking fluency did not; these four variables all developed in non-linear trajectories, and the greatest growth of accuracy, SEA and SEF all took place at Time 2; there existed significant individual differences in the initial levels of fluency, SEA and SEF, and in the change rates of SEA; a higher initial level of accuracy was related to a greater increase in SEA and a greater decrease in growth rates with time. These findings provide evidence for non-linearity, variability and inter-individual differences in the development of L2 speaking and self-efficacy through online scaffolding, and partly confirm the dynamic relations between self-efficacy and L2 performance. Pedagogical implications for online scaffolding are also discussed.

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The Dynamic Nature of Emotions in Language Learning Context: Theory, Method, and Analysis

Wang,

Ganushchak,

Welie

et al. 2024

Educ Psychol Rev

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In current research, emotions in language use situations are often examined only at their starting and ending points, akin to observing the beginning and end of a wave, while neglecting their complex fluctuations in between. To fully comprehend the dynamics of emotions in language use situations, it is essential to delve into their intricate unfolding throughout their progression. This is particularly critical in the context of Second Language Acquisition (SLA), where emotional dynamics can significantly influence learning outcomes and proficiency. Drawing on existing empirical research and theories, we propose a novel interpretation rooted in complex dynamic systems theory (CDST) to elucidate the dynamic nature of emotions in language use situations. Furthermore, we suggest methodologies for capturing the complete dynamics of emotional and language behaviours, including an analysis of their dynamic interrelationships. By embracing a dynamic perspective, we can advance our understanding of interplay between emotions and language behaviours from epistemological theory to methodology and analysis, paving the way for future research in this field.

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A Complex Dynamic Systems Theory Perspective on Speaking in Second Language Development

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Cited by 4 publications

References 39 publications

Variability in L2 Vowel Production: Different Elicitation Methods Affect Individual Speakers Differently

Variability in L2 Vowel Production: Different Elicitation Methods Affect Individual Speakers Differently

The Development of Accuracy and Fluency in Second Language (L2) Speaking Related to Self-Efficacy Through Online Scaffolding: A Latent Growth Curve Modeling Analysis

The Dynamic Nature of Emotions in Language Learning Context: Theory, Method, and Analysis

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