Informal second language learning and EFL learners’ spoken use of discourse markers

Lyrigkou, Christina (2023). Informal second language learning and EFL learners’ spoken use of discourse markers. In: Toffoli, Denyze; Sockett, Geoffrey and Kusyk, Meryl eds. Language Learning and Leisure: Informal Language Learning in the Digital Age. Studies on Language Acquisition [SOLA], 66. De Gruyter Mouton, pp. 91–120.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110752441-005

Abstract

There is a literature gap regarding the effect of informal second language learning (ISLL) in pragmatic performance. The current chapter reports on the findings of a longitudinal study which tracked the use of discourse markers (DMs) in the spoken productions of 52 Greek adolescent learners of English at four time-points over five months. Statistical analysis (Generalized Linear Mixedeffects Modelling) and thematic qualitative text analysis revealed the determining role of leisure-oriented ISLL in broad and frequent DM use. Discussing the findings in light of the explicit/implicit debate, this study makes important contributions to the fields of ISLL and interlanguage pragmatics.