A corpus-based study of examples and example markers in the speech and writing of Spanish EFL students
The use of examples is a crucial aspect of human communication. However, they have attracted relatively little attention in the literature. With the aim of filling this gap, the current paper explores the use of examples and example markers (EMs) by Spanish EFL students, drawing on data from the San...
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| Language: | English |
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Universitat Politècnica de València
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Revista de Lingüística y Lenguas Aplicadas |
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| Online Access: | https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/rdlyla/article/view/21633 |
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| author | Paula Rodríguez Abruñeiras |
| author_facet | Paula Rodríguez Abruñeiras |
| author_sort | Paula Rodríguez Abruñeiras |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of examples is a crucial aspect of human communication. However, they have attracted relatively little attention in the literature. With the aim of filling this gap, the current paper explores the use of examples and example markers (EMs) by Spanish EFL students, drawing on data from the Santiago University Learner of English Corpus (SULEC). The analysis considers both semi-fixed formulas and fully grammaticalized EMs. Results indicate a limited use of these expressions, with learners predominantly relying on fully grammaticalized EMs. The use of grammaticalized EMs reveals notable patterns, with the most common forms found in the corpus – for example and like – being prevalent across proficiency levels, although advanced learners exhibit a wider set of such markers. Moreover, women EFL learners seem to use EMs more frequently than men. The analysis also uncovers disparities between written and spoken language, with a greater presence of EMs in the written medium. Further investigation into the types of sequences in which the EMs for example and for instance appear reveals distinct patterns: argumentation predominates in written texts, while selection is more common in spoken discourse. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6d6a229e403a41c2a4a20ff8aaca38d2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1886-2438 1886-6298 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Universitat Politècnica de València |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista de Lingüística y Lenguas Aplicadas |
| spelling | doaj-art-6d6a229e403a41c2a4a20ff8aaca38d22025-08-20T03:55:49ZengUniversitat Politècnica de ValènciaRevista de Lingüística y Lenguas Aplicadas1886-24381886-62982025-07-012011512710.4995/rlyla.2025.2163320827A corpus-based study of examples and example markers in the speech and writing of Spanish EFL studentsPaula Rodríguez Abruñeiras0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9454-6052Universidade de Santiago de Compostela The use of examples is a crucial aspect of human communication. However, they have attracted relatively little attention in the literature. With the aim of filling this gap, the current paper explores the use of examples and example markers (EMs) by Spanish EFL students, drawing on data from the Santiago University Learner of English Corpus (SULEC). The analysis considers both semi-fixed formulas and fully grammaticalized EMs. Results indicate a limited use of these expressions, with learners predominantly relying on fully grammaticalized EMs. The use of grammaticalized EMs reveals notable patterns, with the most common forms found in the corpus – for example and like – being prevalent across proficiency levels, although advanced learners exhibit a wider set of such markers. Moreover, women EFL learners seem to use EMs more frequently than men. The analysis also uncovers disparities between written and spoken language, with a greater presence of EMs in the written medium. Further investigation into the types of sequences in which the EMs for example and for instance appear reveals distinct patterns: argumentation predominates in written texts, while selection is more common in spoken discourse.https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/rdlyla/article/view/21633example markersexemplificationargumentationselectioneflcorpus-based analysis |
| spellingShingle | Paula Rodríguez Abruñeiras A corpus-based study of examples and example markers in the speech and writing of Spanish EFL students Revista de Lingüística y Lenguas Aplicadas example markers exemplification argumentation selection efl corpus-based analysis |
| title | A corpus-based study of examples and example markers in the speech and writing of Spanish EFL students |
| title_full | A corpus-based study of examples and example markers in the speech and writing of Spanish EFL students |
| title_fullStr | A corpus-based study of examples and example markers in the speech and writing of Spanish EFL students |
| title_full_unstemmed | A corpus-based study of examples and example markers in the speech and writing of Spanish EFL students |
| title_short | A corpus-based study of examples and example markers in the speech and writing of Spanish EFL students |
| title_sort | corpus based study of examples and example markers in the speech and writing of spanish efl students |
| topic | example markers exemplification argumentation selection efl corpus-based analysis |
| url | https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/rdlyla/article/view/21633 |
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