A Corpus-Based Analysis of the Korean EFL Learners

A Corpus-Based Analysis of the Korean EFL Learners

Native language corpora have been used extensively in applied linguistics research for a number of years, but compilation of learner corpora and applications of the corpora to second/foreign language pedagogy is a relatively new concept (Granger, 2002; Silva & Leki, 2004). The purpose of this study is to compile a Korean EFL learner corpus and examine characteristics of cohesive markers in discourse. In particular, the present paper analyzes the use of conjunctive adverbials in a corpus of Korean university students' writing (214,363 words) by adopting a contrastive interlanguage analysis approach. It compares the use of the conjunctive adverbials in the EFL corpus with those in a native English corpus, by conducting both token and type analysis. The result of the token count analysis offers evidence of significant overuse of the adverbial connectors in the EFL corpus, whereas the type count analysis reveals EFL learners' repeated use of the same type. Further, an interesting phenomenon relating to the syntactic position in which conjunctive adverbials were employed was observed: Learners preferred to front conjunctive adverbials to the sentence-initial position. The result of the study further suggests that the EFL learners have difficulties in mastering stylistic sensitivity.