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A DLF Case Study: The Dynamics of Writing Development in Adulthood

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Title: A DLF Case Study: The Dynamics of Writing Development in Adulthood
Language: English
Authors: Thanh T. G. Trinh (ORCID 0009-0007-1802-7964), Kees de Bot (ORCID 0000-0001-7442-2693), Marjolijn Verspoor (ORCID 0000-0001-8828-8405)
Source: Language Teaching Research Quarterly. 2024 39:256-280.
Availability: European Knowledge Development (EUROKD). e-mail: editorial@eurokd.com; Web site: https://www.eurokd.com/journal/jd/1
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2024
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
Descriptors: Authors, Writing Skills, Longitudinal Studies, Lifelong Learning, Adult Learning, Linguistic Theory, Writing (Composition), Text Structure, Adults, Adult Development, Age Differences, Native Language, Vocabulary, Syntax
ISSN: 2667-6753
Abstract: This longitudinal case study from a Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST) perspective touches upon an under-researched issue: L1 development over the lifespan. Levinson (1978) predicts three stages in adulthood: early, mid and late, with a decline in late adulthood. We examine Diane Larsen-Freeman's publications over a period of 50 years (from age 27 to 77) and trace seven complexity measures--three lexical (density, sophistication and diversity) and four syntactic (mean length of sentence, finite verb ratio, dependent clause per T-unit and complex nominals per clause)--to investigate whether early, middle, and late stages in adulthood occur as predicted. After employing common CDST methods to find out if there are significant peaks or interactions among the variables over time, we used a Hidden Markov time-series analysis to locate moments of self-organization, suggesting a new stage of development. The HMM shows a clear phase shift between middle and late adulthood when the writer was 63. Her vocabulary became more diversified, but her sentences were shorter, but not less complex. Therefore, we argue that this shift should not be seen as a decline in complexity but a shift in style as more precise words may lessen the need for more words.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2024
Accession Number: EJ1415591
Database: ERIC
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Thanh+T%2E+G%2E+Trinh%22">Thanh T. G. Trinh</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1802-7964">0009-0007-1802-7964</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kees+de+Bot%22">Kees de Bot</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7442-2693">0000-0001-7442-2693</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Marjolijn+Verspoor%22">Marjolijn Verspoor</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8828-8405">0000-0001-8828-8405</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Language+Teaching+Research+Quarterly%22"><i>Language Teaching Research Quarterly</i></searchLink>. 2024 39:256-280.
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  Data: European Knowledge Development (EUROKD). e-mail: editorial@eurokd.com; Web site: https://www.eurokd.com/journal/jd/1
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  Data: This longitudinal case study from a Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST) perspective touches upon an under-researched issue: L1 development over the lifespan. Levinson (1978) predicts three stages in adulthood: early, mid and late, with a decline in late adulthood. We examine Diane Larsen-Freeman's publications over a period of 50 years (from age 27 to 77) and trace seven complexity measures--three lexical (density, sophistication and diversity) and four syntactic (mean length of sentence, finite verb ratio, dependent clause per T-unit and complex nominals per clause)--to investigate whether early, middle, and late stages in adulthood occur as predicted. After employing common CDST methods to find out if there are significant peaks or interactions among the variables over time, we used a Hidden Markov time-series analysis to locate moments of self-organization, suggesting a new stage of development. The HMM shows a clear phase shift between middle and late adulthood when the writer was 63. Her vocabulary became more diversified, but her sentences were shorter, but not less complex. Therefore, we argue that this shift should not be seen as a decline in complexity but a shift in style as more precise words may lessen the need for more words.
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      – Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Authors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Writing Skills
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      – SubjectFull: Longitudinal Studies
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      – SubjectFull: Lifelong Learning
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      – SubjectFull: Adult Learning
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      – SubjectFull: Writing (Composition)
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      – SubjectFull: Text Structure
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      – SubjectFull: Adults
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      – SubjectFull: Adult Development
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      – SubjectFull: Syntax
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