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Usage-based recycling or creative exploitation of the shared code? The case of phraseological patterning

  • Svetlana Vetchinnikova

    Svetlana Vetchinnikova is a post-doctoral researcher in the Changing English project at the University of Helsinki. She has recently defended her doctoral thesis entitled Second Language Lexis and the Idiom Principle (2014). Her current research centres on language patterning at different planes of its organisation and the underlying processing mechanisms, especially in second language users.

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Published/Copyright: August 14, 2015
Journal of English as a Lingua Franca
From the journal Journal of English as a Lingua Franca Volume 4 Issue 2

Abstract

This paper sets as its aim to show that ELF research is not uniform in its fundamental theoretical assumptions. While one wing of ELF scholars follows a classical Saussurean tradition with its notions of langue and parole, the other is distinctly usage-based. This is not presented as a problem but rather as a matter to be taken into consideration because the views are not easily reconcilable, if at all. Naturally, this divergence of view is clearly visible in data analysis and leads to different interpretations of the underlying processes. I will illustrate my point by the case of phraseological patterning. It is well-known that multi-word units occurring in ELF use are not quite the same as in standard varieties. In SLA the discrepancies are traditionally labelled as errors, a stance ELF researchers do not generally agree with since the conflicting usages do not seem to lose their communicative successfulness. The question at which ELF researchers look differently is whether not quite nativelike phraseological patterning in ELF is a result of analytic or holistic – although fuzzy – processing, in other words, creation or approximation. The answer to this question has profound implications for our understanding of second language processing.

Аннотация: Данная работа ставит своей целью показать, что исследования в области английского как лингва франка (АЛФ) не едины по своим теоретическим основаниям. Одна часть исследователей продолжает традицию классического соссюровского разделения языка и речи, а другая отдает предпочтение современным моделям языка, основанным на его употреблении и отрицающим двуединую сущность языка, также, как и основополагающую роль системы языка, существующей в абстрактной форме. Это не проблема, но соображение, которое следует учитывать, т.к. данные позиции трудно, если не невозможно примирить. Естественно, что несовпадения во взглядах ясно прослеживаются в анализе данных и приводят к различным интерпретациям происходящих процессов. Наша точка зрения будет раскрыта на примере фразеологии, которая в данной работе трактуется широко: под фразеологической единицей понимается любая языковая единица, состоящая из нескольких слов и обладающая определенной степенью устойчивости. Широко известно, что фразеологические обороты в АЛФ отличаются от их употребления в стандартных вариантах языка. В научной области, изучающей усвоение английского как второго языка, такие отклонения принято называть ошибками, тогда как исследователи АЛФ с этим не вполне согласны, поскольку подобные отступления от узуального употребления не препятствуют достижению целей коммуникации. Мнения исследователей АЛФ расходятся в том, что касается не совсем похожего на носителей языка употребления фразеологических единиц: являются ли они результатом творческого переосмысления и вторичной сборки из частей или всего лишь результатом аппроксимации, или приблизительного воспроизведения, объясняющегося особенностями памяти и влиянием частотности употребления. Ответ на этот вопрос влечет за собой далеко идущие последствия для понимания процессов порождения речи на втором языке.

Keywords: usage-based models; classical Saussurean tradition; virtual language; phraseology in ELF; idiom and open-choice principles; Sinclair’s model of a unit of meaning; approximation
Ключевые слова: модели языка; основанные на частотности употребления; соссюровская традиция; виртуальная форма существования языка; фразеология в английском как лингва франка (АЛФ); принцип идиоматичности и принцип свободного построения фразы; модель единицы значения Синклера; аппроксимация

About the author

Svetlana Vetchinnikova

Svetlana Vetchinnikova is a post-doctoral researcher in the Changing English project at the University of Helsinki. She has recently defended her doctoral thesis entitled Second Language Lexis and the Idiom Principle (2014). Her current research centres on language patterning at different planes of its organisation and the underlying processing mechanisms, especially in second language users.

Appendix

  1. Even though there exists discourse between the different scenes they are distinct from each other and often the differentiation is essential to members. (concession)

  2. There exists some research on Heavy Metal in general. But in comparison with research on other musical subculture, one finds very confined data concerning metal audiences. (“lack”)

  3. The general obscurity lead to an even smaller body of research than there exists on Heavy Metal. (“lack”)

  4. Since the data collection will be targeted, the forums preferably will be specialized for black metal but if there exists a lack of such forums generalized (extreme) metal forums with black metal subgroups might be included as well. (“lack”)

  5. It is eminent to note is that even though Black Metal is one of the most extreme scenes of Extreme Metal, there still exists discourse between the different subgenre-scenes. Therefore many of the assumptions and conclusions made about Extreme Metal can be adopted for the Black Metal scene ([ref.], 2007, p. 42). This is essential because there is very little research on Black Metal in particular. (concession, though cf. example [1] above)

  6. In conclusion the literature review shows that there already exists some interesting and valuable research on the different aspects of musical subcultures and media. It also demonstrates that concerning Heavy Metal and Extreme Metal (and Black Metal) little research has been conducted and the older existing research is often lacking basic scientific standards. (“exists but still lacking”)

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Published Online: 2015-8-14
Published in Print: 2015-9-1

©2015 by De Gruyter Mouton

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Articles
  3. Usage-based recycling or creative exploitation of the shared code? The case of phraseological patterning
  4. Parties, persons, and one-at-a-time: conversation analysis and ELF
  5. The role of noun phrases in misunderstandings in Brunei English in ELF settings
  6. Exploring second language speakers’ linguistic identities in ELF communication: a Hong Kong study
  7. Topic & Comment
  8. ELF and the alternatives: comments on Ian MacKenzie’s “Topic & Comment” in JELF 2014; 3(2): 395–407
  9. Response to Sabine Fiedler
  10. “It’s all Greek to me!” or “Am I speaking Chinese?” Comments on Peter Trudgill’s “Before ELF: GLF from Samarkand to Sfakia” in JELF 3(2), 387–393
  11. ELF intelligibility: the vowel quality factor
  12. JELF Talk
  13. ELF and the pragmatics of language variation
  14. Book Reviews
  15. Grazzi, Enrico: The Sociocultural Dimension of ELF in the English Classroom
  16. Collé-Bak, Nathalie, Monica Latham & David Ten Eyck: Textual Practices in the Digital Age
  17. Vettorel, Paola: English as a Lingua Franca in Wider Networking: Blogging Practices
  18. Deterding, David: Misunderstandings in English as a Lingua Franca. An Analysis of ELF Interactions in South-East Asia
  19. Muni Toke, Valelia: Le Locuteur natif
https://doi.org/10.1515/jelf-2015-0019
Keywords for this article
usage-based models; classical Saussurean tradition; virtual language; phraseology in ELF; idiom and open-choice principles; Sinclair’s model of a unit of meaning; approximation

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Articles
  3. Usage-based recycling or creative exploitation of the shared code? The case of phraseological patterning
  4. Parties, persons, and one-at-a-time: conversation analysis and ELF
  5. The role of noun phrases in misunderstandings in Brunei English in ELF settings
  6. Exploring second language speakers’ linguistic identities in ELF communication: a Hong Kong study
  7. Topic & Comment
  8. ELF and the alternatives: comments on Ian MacKenzie’s “Topic & Comment” in JELF 2014; 3(2): 395–407
  9. Response to Sabine Fiedler
  10. “It’s all Greek to me!” or “Am I speaking Chinese?” Comments on Peter Trudgill’s “Before ELF: GLF from Samarkand to Sfakia” in JELF 3(2), 387–393
  11. ELF intelligibility: the vowel quality factor
  12. JELF Talk
  13. ELF and the pragmatics of language variation
  14. Book Reviews
  15. Grazzi, Enrico: The Sociocultural Dimension of ELF in the English Classroom
  16. Collé-Bak, Nathalie, Monica Latham & David Ten Eyck: Textual Practices in the Digital Age
  17. Vettorel, Paola: English as a Lingua Franca in Wider Networking: Blogging Practices
  18. Deterding, David: Misunderstandings in English as a Lingua Franca. An Analysis of ELF Interactions in South-East Asia
  19. Muni Toke, Valelia: Le Locuteur natif
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