Chapter 3.2 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of advanced written L2 Spanish
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Yuly Asención-Delaney
Abstract
Written academic discourse in Spanish as a second language has been extensively described from a textual linguistic perspective. However, second-language researchers have not embraced corpus methodologies to analyze register variation in learner corpora. This study adds to our understanding of the types of discourse that advanced Spanish learners produce in academic writing through a Multi-Dimensional analysis of a corpus of L2 Spanish writing (998,686 words) from a graduate program for teaching Spanish. Results uncovered six significant factors that accounted for 56.76 percent of the variation. Dimension 1, the principal component, clustered 47 co-occurring features in expository discourse related to the instructional setting and to literary analysis. The remaining five dimensions were discursive variations of expository prose found in that particular context.
Abstract
Written academic discourse in Spanish as a second language has been extensively described from a textual linguistic perspective. However, second-language researchers have not embraced corpus methodologies to analyze register variation in learner corpora. This study adds to our understanding of the types of discourse that advanced Spanish learners produce in academic writing through a Multi-Dimensional analysis of a corpus of L2 Spanish writing (998,686 words) from a graduate program for teaching Spanish. Results uncovered six significant factors that accounted for 56.76 percent of the variation. Dimension 1, the principal component, clustered 47 co-occurring features in expository discourse related to the instructional setting and to literary analysis. The remaining five dimensions were discursive variations of expository prose found in that particular context.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- List of contributors ix
- Preface xi
- Acknowledgments xiii
- Introduction xv
- Opening. Multi-Dimensional analysis xxix
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1. Multi-Dimensional Analysis and synchronic analyses
- Chapter 1.1 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of regional variation in American English 3
- Chapter 1.2 Dimensions of register variation in Brazilian Portuguese 35
- Chapter 1.3 25 years later 81
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2. Multi-Dimensional Analysis and diachronic analyses
- Chapter 2.1 Dimensions of variation in North American movies 109
- Chapter 2.2 Multi-Dimensional analysis of pop songs 149
- Chapter 2.3 Dimensions of variation in TIME magazine 177
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3. Multi-Dimensional Analysis and language learning
- Chapter 3.1 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of essay writing 197
- Chapter 3.2 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of advanced written L2 Spanish 239
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4. Multi-Dimensional Analysis: exploring the methodology
- Chapter 4.1 Expanding Multi-Dimensional analysis with qualitative research techniques 273
- Chapter 4.2 Conducting Multi-Dimensional analysis using SPSS 297
- Appendix 317
- Name index 323
- Subject index 325
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- List of contributors ix
- Preface xi
- Acknowledgments xiii
- Introduction xv
- Opening. Multi-Dimensional analysis xxix
-
1. Multi-Dimensional Analysis and synchronic analyses
- Chapter 1.1 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of regional variation in American English 3
- Chapter 1.2 Dimensions of register variation in Brazilian Portuguese 35
- Chapter 1.3 25 years later 81
-
2. Multi-Dimensional Analysis and diachronic analyses
- Chapter 2.1 Dimensions of variation in North American movies 109
- Chapter 2.2 Multi-Dimensional analysis of pop songs 149
- Chapter 2.3 Dimensions of variation in TIME magazine 177
-
3. Multi-Dimensional Analysis and language learning
- Chapter 3.1 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of essay writing 197
- Chapter 3.2 A Multi-Dimensional analysis of advanced written L2 Spanish 239
-
4. Multi-Dimensional Analysis: exploring the methodology
- Chapter 4.1 Expanding Multi-Dimensional analysis with qualitative research techniques 273
- Chapter 4.2 Conducting Multi-Dimensional analysis using SPSS 297
- Appendix 317
- Name index 323
- Subject index 325
