| Student Speech: Email, Chat, and Spoken Language of Korean University Students |
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Kevin T. Were |
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| Abstract |
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The results of research into the language learning potential of two forms of computermediated communication (CMC) — asynchronous email and synchronous chat —have indicated that there are a number of advantages to the use of these forms of language production, both in terms of language produced and learner attitudes. This research focused on a detailed analysis of the language production of three classes of Korean freshman university students to assess how their language varied across the three forms of spoken language, email and synchronous chat. Class A wrote emails to each other, Class B communicated through synchronous chat, and students from Class C were recorded during small group conversations. The language was then analyzed for complexity and accuracy, and compared across a range of variables. The results showed that there was not a clear distinction between language produced in
asynchronous email, language produced in synchronous chat, and language produced when engaging in face-to-face communication. There were no clearly identifiable features to suggest they formed distinct language categories. Accordingly, it is suggested that other factors, such as task type and purpose of communication, may
have as much influence on the language produced as the particular form in which it occurs. |
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