TY - JOUR

T1 - A mixed-methods study of the impact of sociocultural adaptation on the development of pragmatic production

AU - Sánchez-Hernández, Ariadna

PY - 2018/7

Y1 - 2018/7

N2 - This study employs a mixed methods research approach to investigate the effect of sociocultural adaptation on the development of pragmatic production in a study abroad (SA) context. It focuses on the ability to produce pragmatic routines, and whether sociocultural adaptation experiences by learners of different cultural backgrounds predict pragmatic gains. Eighty-seven college students participating in SA programs in the US completed a pre-test and a post-test version of a sociocultural adaptation scale (SCAS) and of a written discourse-completion task (DCT) that measured their ability to use prototypical routines. Supplementary interviews to a subset of 2 students provided further insights on the nature of their adaptation experiences. A quantitative analysis revealed that sociocultural adaptation development had a partial effect on pragmatic gains, due to the mediation of learners’ background culture, which had a direct influence on routine production. The qualitative analysis revealed individual trajectories that illustrated the interplay among sociocultural adaptation, background culture, and gains in production of pragmatic routines.

AB - This study employs a mixed methods research approach to investigate the effect of sociocultural adaptation on the development of pragmatic production in a study abroad (SA) context. It focuses on the ability to produce pragmatic routines, and whether sociocultural adaptation experiences by learners of different cultural backgrounds predict pragmatic gains. Eighty-seven college students participating in SA programs in the US completed a pre-test and a post-test version of a sociocultural adaptation scale (SCAS) and of a written discourse-completion task (DCT) that measured their ability to use prototypical routines. Supplementary interviews to a subset of 2 students provided further insights on the nature of their adaptation experiences. A quantitative analysis revealed that sociocultural adaptation development had a partial effect on pragmatic gains, due to the mediation of learners’ background culture, which had a direct influence on routine production. The qualitative analysis revealed individual trajectories that illustrated the interplay among sociocultural adaptation, background culture, and gains in production of pragmatic routines.

KW - L2 pragmatics

KW - Longitudinal research

KW - Mixed methods

KW - Pragmatic routines

KW - Sociocultural adaptation

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85043981830&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.system.2018.03.008

DO - 10.1016/j.system.2018.03.008

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85043981830

VL - 75

SP - 93

EP - 105

JO - System

JF - System

SN - 0346-251X

ER -