A Case Study On Grammatical Complexity And Accuracy In L2 Writing Performance From Dynamic System Perspective

Many key issues in the Second language acquisition have been dealt with in clear cause-and-effect models and it's generally known that second language learning implies a linear point of view(Dai Yuncai,2012:36).However,Dynamic System Theory advocates that language development is neither simple cognitive psychological process nor social cultural process,but"interaction of a multitude of variables at different levels"(De Bot,Verspoor 2007:7).Moreover,there exist four key constructs in Dynamic System Theory:initial states,attractor states,variation,and non-linearity(De Bot,Lowie,Verspoor 2007:15).These properties barely accord with the process that a language learner acquires second language.Thus,Dynamic System Theory is more capable of describing dynamic property of Second language acquisition.Second language writing is one of activities of second language acquisition;its changing trajectories are inevitably affected by multiple of variables such as learning environment,and cognitive style.But few attempts have been made to describe the personal processes of a writer's development(Baba&Nitta,2014:2).Under the guidance of Dynamic System Theory,this thesis aims to identify the patterns in second language writing by focus on grammatical complexity,accuracy of one month's texts from three postgraduate majoring in English(they are going to be English teacher of primary and middle school).They wrote compositions along with reflective comments twice a week(they commented on compositions from grammar and vocabulary;organization and expression;content;writing process and strategies;comparison between present composition and the former;goals for the next composition).Then,researcher analyzed the text and gauged the grammatical complexity and accuracy.Finally,change-point analysis,moving min-max graph and percentage column chart for distribution of sentence types and error types were applying respectively in analyzing text,which revealed the developmental pattern of two variables and their correlations.Results of the study indicate that there exist moderately great degree of fluctuations in three participants' grammatical complexity and accuracy,moreover,everyone presents different developmental path.It's to be noted that significant changes and sudden jumps appear in two participants' compositions.And they presented difference in when and how these phrase transitions occurred.As for the correlations between complexity and accuracy,no significant relationships are found in three participants' compositions.In addition,in spite of these individual differences,they still shared a similar pattern,which was also found in both written language development of adult L2 learners(Spoelman&Verspoor,2010;Verspoor et al.,2008)and spoken language development of L1 children(Ruhland&vanGeert,1998;vanDijk&van Geert,2007;van Geert&van Dijk,2002).All of these contribute to the understanding for the L2 writing process and ultimately how human acquire an L2.There also three limitations in this study:firstly,the study time lasted too short,a longer-term of the investigation will be better.Secondly,this study is limited to grammatical complexity and accuracy,and more aspects waited for being explored.Finally,given the resources limitation,three participants were involved in the study,more participants will certainly further contribute to the study results.