L2 Syntactic Complexity Analyzer
L2 Syntactical Complexity Analyzer (L2SCA) developed by Xiaofei Lu at the Pennsylvania State University, is a computational tool which produces syntactic complexity indices of written English language texts.[1] Along with Coh-Metrix, the L2SCA is one of the most extensively used computational tool to compute indices of second language writing development. The L2SCA is also widely utilised in the field of corpus linguistics.[2] The L2SCA is available in a single and a batch mode. The first provides the possibility of analyzing a single written text for 14 syntactic complexity indices.[3] The latter allows the user to analyze 30 written texts simultaneously.
Usage
Second language writing development
The L2SCA has been used in numerous studies in the field of second language writing development to compute indices of syntactic complexity.[4][5][6]
Corpus linguistics
The L2SCA has also been used in various studies in the field of corpus linguistics.[7][8]
Indices
| No. | Construct | Index | Abbr.1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Syntactic structures | Word count | W | |
| 2. | Sentence | S | ||
| 3. | Verb phrase | VP | ||
| 4. | Clause | C | ||
| 5. | T-unit | T | ||
| 6. | Dependent clause | DC | ||
| 7. | Complex T-unit | CT | ||
| 8. | Coordinate phrase | CP | ||
| 9. | Complex nominal | CN | ||
| 10. | Syntactic complexity indices | Length of production units | Mean length of sentence | MLS |
| 11. | Mean length of T-unit | MLT | ||
| 12. | Mean length of clause | MLC | ||
| 13. | Overall sentence complexity | Clause per sentence | C/S | |
| 14. | Amounts of subordination | Clause per T-unit | C/T | |
| 15. | Complex T-unit ratio | CT/T | ||
| 16. | Dependent clause per clause | DC/C | ||
| 17. | Dependent clause per T-unit | DC/T | ||
| 18. | Amounts of coordination | Coordinate phrase per clause | CP/C | |
| 19. | Coordinate phrase per T-unit | CP/T | ||
| 20. | T-unit per sentence | T/S | ||
| 21. | Phrasal sophistication | Complex nominal per clause | CN/C | |
| 22. | Complex nominal per T-unit | CN/T | ||
| 23. | Verb phrase per T-unit | V/T | ||
- Notes
- Note 1: Abbreviation
See also
References
- ^ "L2 Syntactic Complexity Analyzer". Aihaiyang.com. 12 September 2018.
- ^ Computational Methods for Corpus Annotation and Analysis. Springer Publishing. 12 September 2018. ISBN 9789401786447.
- ^ Kyle, Kristopher; Crossley, Scott (2017-10-20). "Assessing syntactic sophistication in L2 writing: A usage-based approach". Language Testing. 34 (4): 513–535. doi:10.1177/0265532217712554. ISSN 0265-5322. S2CID 149239304.
- ^ "Diane Mazgutova & Judit Kormos: Syntactic and lexical development in an intensive English for Academic Purposes programme" (PDF). Journal of Second Language Writing. 29: 3–15. 12 September 2018. doi:10.1016/j.jslw.2015.06.004.
- ^ Hou, Junping; Verspoor, Marjolijn; Loerts, Hanneke (12 September 2018). "Junping Hou, Marjolijn Verspoor & Hanneke Loerts: An exploratory study into the dynamics of Chinese L2 writing development". Dutch Journal of Applied Linguistics. 5: 65–96. doi:10.1075/dujal.5.1.04loe.
- ^ "Attila M. Wind: Second language writing development from a Dynamic Systems Theory perspective" (PDF). Lancaster University. 12 September 2018.
- ^ "Lu & Ai: Syntactic complexity in college-level English writing: Differences among writers with diverse L1 backgrounds". Journal of Second Language Writing. 29: 16–27. September 2015. doi:10.1016/j.jslw.2015.06.003.
- ^ "Nasseri: A Corpus-based Analysis of Syntactic Complexity measures in the Academic Writing of EFL, ESL, and Native English Master's Students" (PDF). Birmingham.ac.uk. 12 September 2018.
External links
- Official website
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