ERIC Number: EJ1437990
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2981-9954
Available Date: N/A
The Impact of Loanwords on the English-Japanese Version of Vocabulary Size Test
Vocabulary Learning and Instruction, v13 n1 2024
The Vocabulary Size Test (VST) measures English learners' decontextualised receptive vocabulary knowledge of written English and has nine bilingual versions with multiple-choice options written in other languages. This study used the English-Japanese version of the VST to investigate the extent to which loanword items were answered correctly by Japanese first language (L1) university students compared to non-loanword items, and whether it was easier to answer these loanword items when the correct answer option was written in loanwords rather than Japanese-words. Paired t-tests showed a significant difference in correct response rates between the loanword and non-loanword items, and the loanword options and Japanese-word options, with a large effect size. The results suggest the relative ease of learning English loanwords compared to non-loanwords for L1 Japanese users, and the need to consider the use of loanwords in vocabulary tests to measure test-takers' vocabulary size more accurately.
Descriptors: Linguistic Borrowing, Second Language Learning, Native Language, English (Second Language), Language Tests, Vocabulary Skills, Bilingualism, Multiple Choice Tests, Second Languages, Japanese, Test Items, Item Analysis, Learning Processes, Graduate Students, Majors (Students), Applied Linguistics, Language Proficiency
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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