Lexical Facility
Size, Recognition Speed and Consistency as Dimensions of Second Language Vocabulary Knowledge
Authors: Harrington, Michael
Free Preview- Coins the term lexical facility to analyse second language performer differences
- Establishes a consistent framework to measure size and retrieval speed of vocabulary
- Creates a new method of analysis to measure second language performance
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- About this book
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This book examines the simultaneous contribution of learner vocabulary size and speed to second language performance differences across learner levels and settings. Harrington considers vocabulary size and speed, as reflected in retrieval speed and consistency, as a three-dimensional measurement construct termed lexical facility. While size and retrieval speed are generally known, this is the first attempt to incorporate consistency, as measured by the coefficient of variation, as an index of vocabulary skill. Part 1 describes the three dimensions and the roles they play on lower level text processing and thus on second language performance more generally. Part 2 reports on seven studies and related research that investigate the sensitivity of the three dimensions, both individually and in combination, to proficiency differences in common domains of academic English performance. Harrington’s framework and the theoretical and methodological issues that arise are presented in a manner accessible to a wide readership, including second language acquisition vocabulary researchers, testing and assessment practitioners, and those interested in second language research methodology.
- About the authors
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Michael Harrington teaches in the postgraduate program in Applied Linguistics at the University of Queensland, Australia. He publishes in second language acquisition, second language lexical and cognitive processes, and testing and assessment.
- Reviews
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“For those who show keen interest in assessing vocabulary, Lexical Facility is like a groundbreaking guide. … this innovative book, insightful for English as a second language (ESL) vocabulary instructors and researchers, will constitute an inspiring contribution to L2 lexical studies and deserves unbendable recommendation.” (Liang Zhao, Digital Scholarship in the Humanities, September 20, 2019)
- Table of contents (12 chapters)
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Size as a Dimension of L2 Vocabulary Skill
Pages 3-24
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Measuring Recognition Vocabulary Size
Pages 25-44
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L2 Word Recognition Skill and Its Measurement
Pages 45-65
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Lexical Facility: Bringing Size and Speed Together
Pages 67-94
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Measuring Lexical Facility: The Timed Yes/No Test
Pages 95-119
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Table of contents (12 chapters)
Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
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- Book Title
- Lexical Facility
- Book Subtitle
- Size, Recognition Speed and Consistency as Dimensions of Second Language Vocabulary Knowledge
- Authors
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- Michael Harrington
- Copyright
- 2018
- Publisher
- Palgrave Macmillan UK
- Copyright Holder
- The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s)
- eBook ISBN
- 978-1-137-37262-8
- DOI
- 10.1057/978-1-137-37262-8
- Hardcover ISBN
- 978-1-137-37261-1
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- XXVIII, 305
- Number of Illustrations
- 21 b/w illustrations, 6 illustrations in colour
- Topics
