A Different View of Phraseological Complexity: The Role of Density, Diversity and Distance
This study discusses the current approach to the construct of phraseological complexity, which has captured the attention of second language research in the last few years. It assumes that the two current dimensions of phraseological complexity – diversity and sophistication – do not adequately repr...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
White Rose University Press
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Journal of the European Second Language Association |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://account.euroslajournal.org/index.php/wr-j-jesla/article/view/136 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850128211049971712 |
|---|---|
| author | Stefania Spina |
| author_facet | Stefania Spina |
| author_sort | Stefania Spina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study discusses the current approach to the construct of phraseological complexity, which has captured the attention of second language research in the last few years. It assumes that the two current dimensions of phraseological complexity – diversity and sophistication – do not adequately represent, in its application to phraseology, the notion of structural complexity, that is, the objective dimension of linguistic complexity, independent from any cognitive and developmental dynamics. Echoing Pallotti’s (2015) “simple view of linguistic complexity”, the study thus proposes a different view of phraseological complexity as a multidimensional construct. It suggests that structural phraseological complexity can be described by the three complementary dimensions of density, diversity and distance. Finally, it presents a case study exploring the correlation between the three proposed dimensions and proficiency in texts produced by intermediate and advanced learners of Italian, and by Italian native speakers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b0314c0ec1824e93ad80cfae393d7ffd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2399-9101 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | White Rose University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the European Second Language Association |
| spelling | doaj-art-b0314c0ec1824e93ad80cfae393d7ffd2025-08-20T02:33:24ZengWhite Rose University PressJournal of the European Second Language Association2399-91012025-05-019136–5336–5310.22599/jesla.136136A Different View of Phraseological Complexity: The Role of Density, Diversity and DistanceStefania Spina0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9957-3903Dipartimento di Lingua, letteratura e arti italiane nel mondo, University for Foreigners of PerugiaThis study discusses the current approach to the construct of phraseological complexity, which has captured the attention of second language research in the last few years. It assumes that the two current dimensions of phraseological complexity – diversity and sophistication – do not adequately represent, in its application to phraseology, the notion of structural complexity, that is, the objective dimension of linguistic complexity, independent from any cognitive and developmental dynamics. Echoing Pallotti’s (2015) “simple view of linguistic complexity”, the study thus proposes a different view of phraseological complexity as a multidimensional construct. It suggests that structural phraseological complexity can be described by the three complementary dimensions of density, diversity and distance. Finally, it presents a case study exploring the correlation between the three proposed dimensions and proficiency in texts produced by intermediate and advanced learners of Italian, and by Italian native speakers.https://account.euroslajournal.org/index.php/wr-j-jesla/article/view/136phraseologycomplexityproficiencyl2 italian |
| spellingShingle | Stefania Spina A Different View of Phraseological Complexity: The Role of Density, Diversity and Distance Journal of the European Second Language Association phraseology complexity proficiency l2 italian |
| title | A Different View of Phraseological Complexity: The Role of Density, Diversity and Distance |
| title_full | A Different View of Phraseological Complexity: The Role of Density, Diversity and Distance |
| title_fullStr | A Different View of Phraseological Complexity: The Role of Density, Diversity and Distance |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Different View of Phraseological Complexity: The Role of Density, Diversity and Distance |
| title_short | A Different View of Phraseological Complexity: The Role of Density, Diversity and Distance |
| title_sort | different view of phraseological complexity the role of density diversity and distance |
| topic | phraseology complexity proficiency l2 italian |
| url | https://account.euroslajournal.org/index.php/wr-j-jesla/article/view/136 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stefaniaspina adifferentviewofphraseologicalcomplexitytheroleofdensitydiversityanddistance AT stefaniaspina differentviewofphraseologicalcomplexitytheroleofdensitydiversityanddistance |