Development Of The Progressive Construction In Chinese,Japanese,and Korean EFL Writing:A Usage-Based Approach

Tense-aspect morphology has long been a significant topic within second language acquisition research.Previous studies have extensively investigated variables that may impact the acquisition of tense-aspect morphology.However,few studies have examined the production of progressive construction from a usage-based perspective and investigated its development by examining the effect of lexical aspectual categories,learner proficiency,and first language backgrounds.Therefore,this study aims to explore the developmental trajectory of progressive construction among Chinese,Japanese,and Korean English as a foreign language learners based on a usage-based approach.Specifically,we selected 900 writing essays produced by English as a foreign language learners from China,Japan,and Korea at a range of proficiency levels from elementary to upper-intermediate.Type-token ratios and normalized entropy values were calculated to indicate the productivity and variability of progressive production.In addition,the top 10 progressives in contingency in each learner subcorpus and the correlation in progressive production between English native speakers and each learner subcorpus were presented to illustrate the development of progressive construction across first language backgrounds and learner proficiency.Results show that advanced English as a foreign language learners,regardless of their first language backgrounds,are more productive in using progressive and more in line with native English speakers in terms of type-token ratios and normalized entropy values,compared to English as a foreign language learners with low proficiency.Furthermore,results show that regardless of learners’ first language backgrounds and proficiency levels,their use of progressive markings is predominantly associated with activity verbs,consistent with the predictions of the aspect hypothesis.However,the use of stative verbs increases with learner proficiency for English as a foreign language learners.This trend may be a result of genre effects.Specifically,the genre of argumentative essays may require the frequent use of state verbs to express opinion and attitudes for advanced English as a foreign language learners.Concerning the development of progressive construction,activity verbs occupy the largest proportion in the top 10 progressives in contingency among Chinese,Japanese,and Korean English as a foreign language learners across proficiency levels.It is worth noting that with the increase in proficiency levels,other less prototypical verb types gradually increase,but there is a discrepancy concerning their proportion across first language backgrounds.This result may indicate a complex interaction between lexical aspects,learner proficiency,and first language backgrounds in the acquisition of tense-aspect morphology.Several implications can be derived from the present study.Theoretically,the present study confirmed the prediction of the aspect hypothesis and highlighted the effects of learner proficiency,first language backgrounds,and genre variation on the acquisition of progressive construction.Methodologically,the present study testified to the applicability of usage-based approach in examining construction learning.Pedagogically,it is imperative to take genre variation into consideration in the process of teaching progressive construction,as different genres may require different lexical aspects to convey certain functions.Furthermore,special attention needs to be paid to strengthen the proper use of stative verbs in progressive construction for English as a foreign language learners with different first language backgrounds.