Given the small body of existing research concerning focus on form at post-task stage in task-based language teaching, the present study adopts post-task transcribing as a focus on form activity and explores the effects of transcribing under various conditions. In addition, two task types are adopted in multiple task sessions to explore task effects and task practice effects on learners' oral performance. / Ninety-six participants, divided into five experimental groups and one control group completed four tasks with a one-week interval between each task. Different experimental groups were assigned various post-task activities respectively. No post-task activity was adopted in the control group. Task performance was measured in terms of complexity, accuracy, fluency and lexical performance. / The findings are multifaceted. First of all, the adoption of post-task transcribing was found to be efficient for different formal aspects of task performance. In the second place, the pair-based transcribing brought about more syntactically complicated language, whereas the individual condition at the post-task stage led to an improvement in lexical sophistication. Thirdly, further revision after transcribing had complex effects on accuracy and complexity. Fourthly, interactive tasks proved to be more promising for a better overall task performance. Last but not least, multiple task practices were found to be beneficial for learners' lexical performance. / The findings were discussed in light of the concept of noticing and attention, Levelt's speaking model, socio-cultural theory and other related SLA theories. Based on the theoretical discussion, pedagogical implications have been proposed. / This research argues that in task-based language teaching, more attention should be paid to the post-task stage regarding its effect on focus on form. Specifically, it suggests that (a) a post-task transcribing activity can be adopted as a feasible focus on form activity in L2 classrooms; (b) different conditions for the operation of post-task transcribing may bring about distinct effects on various aspects of task performance; (c) different task types have different effects on learners' performance; (d) multiple task sessions are necessary for L2 language improvement. Further, the present study calls for a process-product approach in further studies concerning the effects of post-task focus on form activities. / Li, Qian. / Adviser: Peter Skehan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-03, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 254-278). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese; appendix III also in Chinese.

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Nesta tese observa-se o papel que a semântica e a pragmática desempenham, na gramática inicial (early grammar) da interlíngua de falantes de português, na compreensão de textos em inglês e em espanhol nos quais se relatam eventos passados e se empregam as oposições Present Perfect x Past Simple e Pretérito Perfecto x Pretérito Indefinido. Assumimos (MICHAELLIS, 1998) que um dos valores mais fortes das formas compostas dessas duas línguas é o resultativo e que como o português, na maioria das vezes, expressa o resultado de outros modos, o aprendiz vê naquelas apenas uma maneira de expressar ações passadas. Em função disso, ao analisar a estrutura da língua estrangeira, acaba atribuindo aos tempos compostos de ambas os valores aspectuais das perífrases [TER+Particípio] e [ESTAR+Gerúndio] do português, que em muitos casos não coincide com os valores das formas perifrásticas das línguas que estão aprendendo. Enquanto as perífrases da língua estrangeira têm o aspecto perfectivo resultativo, as do português têm valor imperfectivo continuativo. Tal fato, que afeta a compreensão do texto, não é percebido pelos aprendizes. Estes analisam primeiramente a sintaxe da língua-alvo (top-down procedure, Liceras, 2003a) uma vez que não têm acesso aos traços que desencadeiam a fixação de parâmetros para a realização do bottom-up. O padrão de atribuição dos valores das perífrases da L1 para a L2 aparece nas interlínguas do espanhol e do inglês, apontando para um mesmo processo, independente de a língua-alvo ser mais ou menos próxima do português. Testes com análise de variância comprovam que se trata de um mesmo processo para as duas línguas, que começa a partir da reestruturação da L1, sugerindo que a aquisição dessa é regida pelos princípios da GU, mas que a marcação de parâmetros não acontecerá como na L1, mas se dará via reestruturação de porções da L1. Os valores semânticos utilizados na interlíngua, nesse estágio, também são os da L1, o que aponta que, assim como acontece com a fonologia, a criança nasce com sensibilidade para acessar qualquer valor semântico, mas existe um período crítico que faz com que a aquisição da L2 ocorra por reestruturação não apenas sintática mas também semântica dos valores da L1. A pragmática, por sua vez, será acessada, após a semântica, como uma sintonia fina do sentido / In this thesis, the roles of Semantics and Pragmatics in text comprehension tasks have been investigated in Portuguese speakers interlanguage early grammar. The texts in both English and Spanish had past events told employing Present Perfect x Past Simple and Pretérito Perfecto x Pretérito Indefinido pairings. We have adopted (Michaellis, 1998) that the English periphrasis has as its most salient meaning the resultative reading and have applied it to the Spanish periphrasis as well. Portuguese, on the other hand, expresses resultative meaning in different ways most of the times leading students to see in the Present Perfect and Pretérito Perfecto structures the past event meaning alone. Consequently, when analyzing the foreign language structures, learners end up assigning them the aspectual values which belong to the Portuguese [TER+Participle] and [ESTAR+Gerund] periphrases, despite their not sharing the same aspectual values most of the time, because the English and Spanish forms express the perfective and resultative aspect, while the Portuguese periphrasis indicates the imperfective and durative aspect. This mismatch affects text comprehension, but is not perceived by the students. Learners first analyze the target language structure (topdown procedure, Liceras, 2003a), once they cannot have access to the features which trigger the parameter setting, precluding a bottom-up procedure. The same pattern of value assignment from the L1 periphrasis to both L2 is noticeable in both English and Spanish interlanguages. Analysis of Variance tests have proven that both interlanguages undergo the same process, which starts from L1 reestructuring. This fact suggests that adult L2 learner will make use of UG principles, but will not set parameters the way children do, L2 will grow by reestructuring portions of L1. The semantic values applied in both English and Spanish interlanguages at this stage, are L1?s as well, allowing a comparison to the phonology acquisition. Children are born sensitive to any semantic value, but due to a critical period for semantics, adult L2 learners will acquire L2 semantic values by reestructing not only the syntax of L1 but also its semantic values. Learners will have access to pragmatics, after semantics, as a fine-tuned meaning

Syftet med denna studie är att studera förekomsten av strategier hosandraspråksstuderande i franska. Den syftar även till att utveckla och analyserafaktorer som kan påverka valet av strategi.Den teoretiska förankringen är en kategorisering av inlärarstrategier utifrånden amerikanska språkprofessorn Rebecca L Oxfords modell. Frågeställningen idetta arbete är vilka direkta och indirekta strategier som är vanligt förekommandehos andraspråksinlärare (L2) och på vilket sätt de beskriver dessa som användbaraoch effektiva. I analysen belyses faktorer som kan påverka val av strategi.Resultatet visar att L2 använder ett stort antal direkta och indirektastrategier för att lära sig andraspråket. De har en instinktiv och medveten förmågaatt välja strategi utifrån uppgift och mål. Högmotiverade och studievana L2använder inlärarstrategier som har fungerat väl i tidigare studiesammanhang. Demindre studievana finner instinktiva vägar, metoder och strategier tillandraspråket. Extroverta L2 använder fler indirekta strategier medan introverta flerdirekta.Studiematerialet består av kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer med sexstuderande L2 och två undervisande andraspråkslärare. Samtliga intervjuer ärutförda i Frankrike i juli månad 2018.

This study investigates the acquisition of conventional metaphorical expressions by Chinese learners of English. A conventional metaphorical expression, following the definition of cognitive semantics, refers to the use of a conventionalised non-literal meaning of a lexical item in a multi-word phrase. For example, the word 'attack' in the phrase 'attack one's idea', which should be interpreted as 'to criticise somebody or something severely', clearly departs from the literal meaning 'to use violence to try to hurt or kill somebody', and thus should be seen as a metaphorically used word. Consequently, the phrase 'attack one's idea' is a conventional metaphorical expression. This study explores learners' behaviour towards and acquisition of metaphorical expressions from two major perspectives: (1) possible cross-linguistic influence in the process of acquisition and factors that could affect cross-linguistic influence; and (2) the organisation of learners' bilingual lexicon and the status of metaphorical expressions in a bilingual lexicon. These two perspectives are considered to be the main factors that can influence learners' acquisition of metaphorical expressions: in order to acquire a metaphorical expression, learners should be able to integrate it into the bilingual lexicon, while the process of integration can be impacted by cross-linguistic influence. Previous research has mainly been conducted on the acquisition of certain figurative expressions in a second language, predominantly idioms; however, a combination of the two perspectives and a joint analysis on the acquisition of figurative language has yet to be accomplished. This study presents a first attempt of such analysis on the acquisition of a specific type of figurative language. The results of the experiments reported in this dissertation show that learners react differently to metaphorical expressions with different cross-linguistic availabilities (shared between Chinese and English or exclusively available in Chinese or English) but in general they encounter difficulty to achieve native-like performance when reading metaphorical expressions available in their second language. Persistent cross-linguistic influence is observed in two aspects, even among highly proficient learners: (1) learners encounter obstacles when acquiring the metaphorical expressions that are only available in their second language; and (2) learners seem to still activate the metaphorical meanings that are only available in their first language even when they read in their second language. These results altogether reflect that metaphorical expressions, regardless of cross-linguistic availability, are more difficult to acquire than literal expressions in a second language.

abstract: In a growlingly digital world, scholars must understand the changes in textuality and communication associated with Web 2.0 technologies to incorporate potential pedagogical benefits to language curricula. For example, with the affordance of these technologies, language learners (LL) are increasingly exposed to language contact zones found both on and offline. A practice that could potentially support the communicative practices of LL within these multilingual spaces is translanguaging, or the use of strategies employed by LL when engaging with diverse codes by utilizing the resources of their semiotic repertoire as well as their language(s). Previous research has focused principally on contexts of bilingual education and identity formation vis-à-vis translanguaging. Therefore, the present study is the first to examine the actual translanguaging practices of second language (n=5) and heritage language learners (n=5) of Spanish in a digital language contact zone: Facebook affinity spaces, or common interest spaces. The dynamic data gathered from screen capture recordings of the participants’ interactions and think-aloud protocols in the affinity spaces, stimulated recall interviews, and written reflections were analyzed using content analysis and critical discourse analysis. This analysis revealed key findings in the data that focused on translanguaging practices, negotiation strategies, and performative competence - or the procedural knowledge which focuses on how learners communicate rather than what they communicate. First, the participants displayed a preference toward the separation of languages in written output, adhering to the ideals of linguistic purism, while simultaneously engaging in translanguaging practices via non-linguistic semiotic resources, such as the use of emojis, in their communication. Second, the participants’ self-reported proficiency levels for their writing abilities in Spanish correlated with their use of outside digital resources as a mediation tool. The findings show that, theoretically, the conceptualization of communicative competence must be expanded in order to incorporate the languaging practices of interlocutors in digital contexts. Pedagogically, educators need to support the development of LLs’ digital literacies, or communicative practices that are facilitated by technology, and address the bias toward linguistic purism to help students reap the cognitive benefits offered by translanguaging practices. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Spanish 2018

Man, Ming Yu. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-173). / Abstracts in English and Chinese; appendix also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT (ENGLISH) --- p.i / ABSTRACT (CHINESE) --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vi / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.viii / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background to This Study --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Purpose of This Study --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Significance of This Study --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Organization --- p.4 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.6 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2 --- Pre-Firth and Wagner (1997) --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- The Social Psychological Perspective --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- The Cognitive-situated Perspective --- p.8 / Chapter 2.3 --- Post-Firth and Wagner (1997) --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Post-structuralist Perspective --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- The Process-oriented Perspective --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4 --- SLA Motivation Research in FL Context --- p.14 / Chapter 2.5 --- Language Learning Context in Hong Kong --- p.18 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- English Learning Context in Hong Kong --- p.18 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Japanese Learning Context in Hong Kong --- p.20 / Chapter 2.6 --- Empirical Studies on Language Learning in Hong Kong --- p.22 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Empirical Studies on English Learning in Hong Kong --- p.22 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Empirical Studies on Japanese Learning in Hong Kong --- p.25 / Chapter 2.7 --- Summary --- p.28 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- METHODOLOGY --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2 --- Research Design --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3 --- Participants --- p.31 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Selection Criteria for the Questionnaire Survey Participants --- p.31 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Selection Criteria for the Semi-Structured Interview Participant --- p.32 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Demographic and Language Background --- p.33 / Chapter 3.4 --- Instrumentation --- p.40 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Questionnaire Survey --- p.41 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Semi-structured Interviews --- p.43 / Chapter 3.5 --- Procedures --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6 --- Data Processing and Analysis --- p.46 / Chapter 3.7 --- Validity and Reliability --- p.47 / Chapter 3.8 --- Ethics --- p.48 / Chapter 3.9 --- Limitation --- p.49 / Chapter 3.10 --- Summary --- p.50 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- FINDINGS´ؤSURVEYS --- p.52 / Chapter 4.1 --- The Demographic Profiles of the Participants --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2 --- Linguistic Profiles of the Participants --- p.54 / Chapter 4.3 --- The Participants´ة Travel Experiences --- p.58 / Chapter 4.4 --- Scale Reliability --- p.60 / Chapter 4.5 --- The Mean Scores for the Scales --- p.62 / Chapter 4.6 --- Correlations between the Scales --- p.64 / Chapter 4.7 --- Adjectives Used to Describe English and Japanese Languages --- p.74 / Chapter CHAPTRE 5 --- FINDINGS´ؤINTERVIEWS --- p.76 / Chapter 5.1 --- The English Language --- p.76 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Linguistic Onset --- p.76 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Integrativeness --- p.77 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Attitudes towards the L2 Speakers / Community --- p.78 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Instrumentality --- p.85 / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Attitudes towards the L2 --- p.86 / Chapter 5.1.6 --- Milieu --- p.86 / Chapter 5.1.7 --- The Classroom Learning Experience --- p.88 / Chapter 5.1.7.1 --- ELTU Courses --- p.88 / Chapter 5.1.7.2 --- Secondary School Learning Experience --- p.90 / Chapter 5.1.8 --- Cultural Interest --- p.99 / Chapter 5.1.8.1 --- Songs --- p.99 / Chapter 5.1.8.2 --- TV Programs --- p.100 / Chapter 5.1.8.3 --- Films --- p.100 / Chapter 5.1.8.4 --- Books --- p.101 / Chapter 5.1.8.5 --- Cartoons --- p.102 / Chapter 5.1.8.6 --- Other Aspects --- p.102 / Chapter 5.2 --- The Japanese Language --- p.103 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Linguistic Onset --- p.104 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Integrativeness --- p.105 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Attitudes towards the L2 Speakers / Community --- p.107 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Milieu --- p.110 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Classroom Learning Experience --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- Cultural Interest --- p.118 / Chapter 5.2.6.1 --- Songs --- p.118 / Chapter 5.2.6.2 --- Animation / TV drama / Comics / Films --- p.119 / Chapter 5.2.6.3 --- Electronic Games --- p.122 / Chapter 5.2.6.4 --- Web Sites --- p.122 / Chapter 5.3 --- Global Orientation --- p.123 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- "Willingnes to Travel, Work, or Study in Another Country" --- p.123 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Exchange Programs --- p.127 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Current Affaires --- p.128 / Chapter 5.4 --- Summary --- p.129 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- DISCUSSION --- p.135 / Chapter 6.1 --- Pre-actional Stage --- p.135 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Ideal L2 Self and Integrativeness --- p.135 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Ought-to L2 Self and Instrumentality --- p.139 / Chapter 6.2 --- Actional Stage --- p.143 / Chapter 6.3 --- Post-actional Stage --- p.148 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Motivation Maintenance --- p.148 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Demotivation --- p.150 / Chapter 6.4 --- Motivational Change --- p.152 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- CONCLUSION --- p.155 / Chapter 7.1 --- Research Questions --- p.155 / Chapter 7.1.1 --- Research Question One --- p.155 / Chapter 7.1.2 --- Research Question Two --- p.157 / Chapter 7.1.3 --- Research Question Three --- p.158 / Chapter 7.2 --- Implications --- p.159 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- For English Teachers --- p.159 / Chapter 7.2.2 --- For Japanese Teachers --- p.160 / Chapter 7.2.3 --- Limitations of the Present Study and Implications for Future Studies --- p.161 / References --- p.163 / APPENDIX A: ENGLISH L2 LEARNING MOTIVATION QUETSIONNAIRE --- p.174 / APPENDIX B: JAPANESE L2 LEARNING MOTIVATION QUETSIONNAIRE --- p.181 / APPENDIX C: GUIDED QUESTIONS FOR INTERVIEW ONE --- p.188 / APPENDIX D: APPLICATION LETTER TO THE JAPANESE SUMMER COURSE TEACHERS --- p.193 / APPENDIX E: PARTICIPANT RECRUITMENT FORM --- p.194 / APPENDIX F: QUESTIONNIARE CONSENT FORM FOR THE PARTICIPANTS --- p.195 / APPENDIX G: INTERVIEW CONSENT FORM FOR THE PARTICIPANTS --- p.196 / APPENDIX H: TRANSCRIPTIONS FOR FIRST-ROUND INTERVIEWS --- p.197 / Amanda´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.197 / Candy´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.220 / Elaine´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.242 / Katy´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.256 / Matt´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.277 / Ricky´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.292 / Sean´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.309 / Tim´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.330 / APPENDIX I: TRANSCRIPTIONS FOR SECOND-ROUND INTERVIEWS --- p.347 / Amanda´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.347 / Candy´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.357 / Elaine´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.365 / Katy´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.374 / Matt´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.384 / Ricky´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.393 / Sean´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.403 / Tim´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.413

This study investigates the acquisition of English lexical stress by Cantonese-English bilingual children and compares the bilinguals with English monolingual children of the same age. The aim of this study is to find out how Cantonese-English bilingual children develop English lexical stress under the possible interaction of the two phonological systems. Two age groups were included: 2;06 and 3;0. Two acoustic correlates for lexical stress were measured: syllable duration and peak F0. Words in two language contexts were examined: disyllabic words in English speech and code-switched English words in Cantonese speech. / Data of eight bilingual children and seven monolingual children were used. All the bilingual data came from CHILDES database and monolingual data came from multiple sources. Disyllabic words were extracted from English utterances, and the stressed/unstressed syllable duration and peak F0 ratios were calculated to see how contrastive the stress patterns were. Results indicated that the monolingual children displayed a more contrastive stress pattern in both acoustic correlates, although syllable duration is found to be more reliable than peak F0 in stress distinction. Stress pattern in code-switched words were also analyzed. It was found that bilingual children displayed a stronger pitch difference in code-switched words, more contrastive than the patterns in their English speech. The results suggest that between 2;06 and 3;0, Cantonese-English bilingual children used less duration and pitch contrast for lexical stress than English monolingual children did, and they were slower in developing native-like lexical stress pattern during this period. On the other hand, Cantonese-English bilingual children used acoustic properties for lexical stress differently in the two language contexts, indicating that they possessed some kind of metalinguistic awareness at such an early age. / 本研究探索粵語和英語雙語兒童對英語詞重音的早期習得情況，並將雙語兒童與英語單語兒童進行對比討論。研究目的旨在探討雙語語音系統之間是否存在相互影響，以及此影響如何改變雙語兒童的語言韻律發展。研究對象包括處於2 歲6個月及3 歲這兩個年齡階段的粵英雙語及英語單語兒童。文章選取兒童自然對話中,位於句中位置的雙音節詞，對其音節時長和音高峰值進行測量。此外，本研究發現雙語兒童存在代碼轉換的現象，即在粵語表達中插入英語辭彙，因此本文同時也對被插入的英語辭彙的詞重音進行探究，以期對詞重音的雙語習得獲得更詳盡的瞭解。 / 本研究所用數據來自八名粵英雙語兒童和七名英語單語兒童。雙語兒童數據取自“兒童語言資料交換系統”（CHILDES）中的“香港雙語兒童語料庫”，單語兒童數據則來自多方資料。研究將所提取的雙音節詞的重音音節與非重音音節的時長及音高峰值分別測量之後，計算出重音音節與非重音音節的比值。比值越大表明兒童在產出中越能明顯區別重音音節與非重音音節，即對英語詞重音的掌握越好。 / 研究結果發現單語兒童的表現領先于雙語兒童，體現在單語兒童可以將重音與非重音音節的時長與音高明顯區分，而雙語兒童產出的雙音節詞中，重音音節和非重音音節在時長和音高方面的區別都不明顯。然而對於被插入粵語句子中的英語雙音節詞，雙語兒童卻能很好地區分開重音音節和非重音音節的音高 。 / 研究結果表明，在2 歲6 個月至3 歲之間的這段時間，粵語和英語雙語兒童對英語詞重音的習得逊於英語單語兒童。但另一方面，粵語和英語雙語兒童表現出對語言環境的敏感，可以根據語言環境和交流對象的不同改變對語音特徵的運用，展現出一定程度的元（後設）語言覺識。 / Li, Jingwen. / Thesis M.Phil. Chinese University of Hong Kong 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-65). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on 11, October, 2016). / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only.