Using the Type-Token ration in the Study of Repetition Patterns in the Second Language Lexical Development of Learners from Two Different English Language Backgrounds

Abstract

This paper makes a developmental study of vocabulary acquisition by 2 groups of English as a second language learners (School East and School West) who have different degrees of exposure to English input. It focuses on the repetition patterns that characterise their inter-language as they progress along the developmental continuum. The study seeks to investigate whether or not second language learners with different degrees of exposure to English input can be said to exhibit different lexical repetition patterns in their inter-language. The method of data analysis revolves around the analysis of types and tokens and is informed by research methods that were pioneered by Kaeding (1898) and later Hormann (1971). Results indicate that pupils from School West who have little exposure to English input realise high lexical repetition scores while learners from School East whose exposure to English input is considerable realise low lexical repetition scores. The paper concludes that those learners with high percentages in average repetition rates are more likely to be less proficient in the use of those lexical items than those learners with low percentages of average lexical repetition rates.