A Descriptive Analysis of Key N-grams in Korean English Learners' Writing

The purpose of this study is to investigate Korean English learners' use of formulaic language, focusing on continuous sequences of 4 words (4-grams). Since the use of 4-grams indicates learners' proficiency in language use, it can be a good way to demonstrate how they use language. In particular, the study analyses 4-grams in terms of keyness. To this end, two lists of key 4-grams extracted from argumentative essays are contrastively compared check for any discrepancies between key 4-grams of Korean English learners and those of native learners. The comparison is based on three factors: type, token and type-token ratio (TTR). The results of the study show that Korean learners have a limited set of 4-grams which seem to be acquired from their previous learning, and these do not reflect topics or themes that appear in the native learners' list of key 4-grams.