Measuring Second Language Pragmatic Competence

A Psycholinguistic Perspective

By (author) Dr. Rod Ellis, Carsten Roever, Natsuko Shintani, Yan Zhu

Publication date:

12 March 2024

Publisher

Multilingual Matters

Dimensions:

234x156mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781800417731

Taking a psycholinguistic perspective, this book investigates how second language (L2) learners’ pragmatic abilities in English can be measured. It complements and extends earlier work on the testing of implicit and explicit grammar. The authors present a set of tests they developed using both well-established methods of measuring pragmatic knowledge (e.g. a Metapragmatic Knowledge Test and role plays) and more original tests (e.g. an Irony Test and an Elicited Imitation Test). They explain the development of the tests and report the results of their work with native speakers of English and Chinese and Japanese L2 learners. A confirmatory factor analysis lends support to the theoretical basis of the tests. The authors also report studies that explored the use of the tests to investigate L2 linguistic proficiency, study abroad and formal instruction. In concluding, they consider the strengths and limitations of the tests and propose some directions for future research.

About the Authors

Acknowledgements

Preface

Part 1: Background

Chapter 1. Carsten Roever and Rod Ellis: Tests of L2 Pragmatics: What Do They Assess?

Part 2: The Development of the Tests

Chapter 2. Rod Ellis, Natsuko Shintani and Yan Zhu: Introducing the Project: The Test Battery

Chapter 3. Rod Ellis, Yan Zhu and Natsuko Shintani: The Metapragmatic Knowledge Test: A Comparative Study of Chinese and Japanese Learners

Chapter 4. Rod Ellis and Natsuko Shintani: Evaluating the Social Variables Test

Chapter 5. Rod Ellis, Yan Zhu, Natsuko Shintani and Carsten Roever: The Irony Test: A Study of Chinese Learners’ Ability to Comprehend Irony

Chapter 6. Rod Ellis, Yan Zhu, Natsuko Shintani: The Elicited Imitation Test: An Exploratory Study of L2 Learners’ Knowledge of Hedging

Chapter 7. Rod Ellis and Natsuko Shintani: The Monologic Role Play: A Genre-Based Approach to Measuring Pragmatic Ability

Chapter 8. Rod Ellis, Yan Zhu and Natsuko Shintani: The Dialogic Role Play: A Discourse-Analytic Approach to Measuring Pragmatic Ability

Chapter 9. Rod Ellis, Natsuko Shintani and Yan Zhu: Assessing Implicit and Explicit Pragmatic Competence: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Part 3: Mediating Factors

Chapter 10. Carsten Roever, Natsuko Shintani, Yan Zhu and Rod Ellis: Proficiency as an Individual Difference Variable

Chapter 11. Natsuko Shintani and Rod Ellis: The Roles of Language Proficiency and Study Abroad in Japanese Students’ Receptive Pragmatic Competence

Chapter 12. Natsuko Shintani and Rod Ellis: The Effect of Digital Explicit-Deductive Instruction on the Development of Explicit and Implicit Pragmatic Abilities

Part 4: Conclusion

Chapter 13. Rod Ellis: Retrospect and Prospect

Appendices

References

Index

Theoretically robust and eminently practical, this book describes the process of developing and validating an assessment battery covering three areas of pragmatics – speech acts, implicature and discourse. Adopting the theory of explicit and implicit knowledge, the book uniquely situates pragmatics assessment at the intersection of SLA and psycholinguistics. This is an invaluable resource for researchers and teachers seeking innovative yet thorough ways of assessing pragmatic competence.