Corpus Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition

In Corpus Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition, Xiaofei Lu comprehensively reviews empirical studies that employ corpus linguistic methods to investigate issues in second language variation, processing, production, and development. These methods enable advanced students and researchers to:Examine learner and task variables that condition variation in second language useUnderstand the effects of various input factors on second language processing and productionTrack group longitudinal trajectories of second language development and the input, learner, and task factors that affect such trajectoriesProfile inter- and intra-learner variability and individual variation in second language longitudinal developmentThis book will serve as an excellent resource for students and researchers with interests in corpus linguistics and second language acquisition.

“Corpus linguistics is one of the fastest-growing areas of second language acquisition research. In this timely and compelling overview, Xiaofei Lu shows us why. He illustrates the use of native and learner corpora as objective, sharable evidence of patterns of language uniformity, variation, and growth, and he explains the methods, measures, and tools for analyzing corpus data. An excellent source for researchers and students alike.”Nick Ellis, University of Michigan, USA“This book is a must-read for both beginning and experienced researchers who are interested in corpus-based explorations of second language acquisition. It offers a comprehensive and accessible review and discussion on a wealth of carefully chosen topics that may help unravel the mysteries of second language acquisition.” Lei Lei, Professor of Applied Linguistics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China“This volume is an excellent resource for those who want to apply corpus methods to the study of second language acquisition. Importantly, the text covers both relevant theoretical constructs (from a range of perspectives) and ways in which these theoretical constructs have and can be operationalized when studying learner language. This book is a must read for SLA researchers, and I look forward to using it in both graduate classes devoted to SLA more generally and those that focus on learner corpus research.”Kristopher Kyle, Assistant Professor of Linguistics, University of Oregon, USA

Xiaofei Lu is Professor of Applied Linguistics and Asian Studies at The Pennsylvania State University. His research specializations include corpus linguistics, second language acquisition, second language writing, English for Academic Purposes, and computer-assisted language learning. He is the author of Computational Methods for Corpus Annotation and Analysis (2014).