Startseite Linguistik & Semiotik A syntactic analysis of the introductory it pattern in non-native-speaker and nativespeaker student writing
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A syntactic analysis of the introductory it pattern in non-native-speaker and nativespeaker student writing

  • Tove Larsson
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Corpus Linguistics, Context and Culture
Ein Kapitel aus dem Buch Corpus Linguistics, Context and Culture

Abstract

The introductory it pattern, as in It is important to consider the issue of learning outcomes, is a versatile tool that has proved challenging for learners of English. Taking Quirk et al.’s (1985: 1392) seven syntactic types as the starting point, the present corpus-based study aims to map out the full inventory of this pattern in non-native-speaker and native-speaker student writing. Comparisons are made across native-speaker status, academic disciplines, and level of achievement (higher-graded papers vs. lower-graded papers). The material comprises student papers from three corpora: Advanced Learner English Corpus (ALEC), Michigan Corpus of Upper-level Student Papers (MICUSP) and the British Academic Written English (BAWE). The results show that while there are only small differences across native-speaker status, there are noteworthy differences across the academic disciplines. Furthermore, the students at a lower level of achievement show a preference for one syntactic type in particular. All in all, it seems that this pattern deserves a place among discipline-specific conventions taught to university students.

Abstract

The introductory it pattern, as in It is important to consider the issue of learning outcomes, is a versatile tool that has proved challenging for learners of English. Taking Quirk et al.’s (1985: 1392) seven syntactic types as the starting point, the present corpus-based study aims to map out the full inventory of this pattern in non-native-speaker and native-speaker student writing. Comparisons are made across native-speaker status, academic disciplines, and level of achievement (higher-graded papers vs. lower-graded papers). The material comprises student papers from three corpora: Advanced Learner English Corpus (ALEC), Michigan Corpus of Upper-level Student Papers (MICUSP) and the British Academic Written English (BAWE). The results show that while there are only small differences across native-speaker status, there are noteworthy differences across the academic disciplines. Furthermore, the students at a lower level of achievement show a preference for one syntactic type in particular. All in all, it seems that this pattern deserves a place among discipline-specific conventions taught to university students.

Kapitel in diesem Buch

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Part I: Discourse contexts and cultures
  5. Patterns of discursive urban place-making in Brooklyn, New York 13
  6. The English of current Caribbean newspapers 43
  7. Corporate identity and its variation over time 75
  8. Applying Geographical Information Systems to researching historical corpora 109
  9. Corpus linguistics: Widening the remit 137
  10. Part II: Contexts of lexis and grammar
  11. Family collocation 165
  12. Factors influencing the translation of -ing participial free adjuncts 197
  13. The diachronic productivity of native combining forms in American English 223
  14. Advise against -ing: An emerging class of exceptions to Bach’s Generalization 253
  15. Subjective progressives in the history of American English 275
  16. Part III: Learner contexts
  17. A syntactic analysis of the introductory it pattern in non-native-speaker and nativespeaker student writing 307
  18. Phraseological teddy bears 339
  19. “Dear Man men and women madam, dear xxx sir” 363
  20. Marked themes in advanced learner English 387
  21. Phrasal verbs in the spoken and written modes of Norwegian L2 learner English 409
  22. Conversational gesture corpus analysis 437
  23. Corpus research for SLA 467
  24. List of contributors 483
  25. Index 487
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110489071-012

Kapitel in diesem Buch

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Part I: Discourse contexts and cultures
  5. Patterns of discursive urban place-making in Brooklyn, New York 13
  6. The English of current Caribbean newspapers 43
  7. Corporate identity and its variation over time 75
  8. Applying Geographical Information Systems to researching historical corpora 109
  9. Corpus linguistics: Widening the remit 137
  10. Part II: Contexts of lexis and grammar
  11. Family collocation 165
  12. Factors influencing the translation of -ing participial free adjuncts 197
  13. The diachronic productivity of native combining forms in American English 223
  14. Advise against -ing: An emerging class of exceptions to Bach’s Generalization 253
  15. Subjective progressives in the history of American English 275
  16. Part III: Learner contexts
  17. A syntactic analysis of the introductory it pattern in non-native-speaker and nativespeaker student writing 307
  18. Phraseological teddy bears 339
  19. “Dear Man men and women madam, dear xxx sir” 363
  20. Marked themes in advanced learner English 387
  21. Phrasal verbs in the spoken and written modes of Norwegian L2 learner English 409
  22. Conversational gesture corpus analysis 437
  23. Corpus research for SLA 467
  24. List of contributors 483
  25. Index 487
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Heruntergeladen am 26.1.2026 von https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110489071-012/html
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