Articles in English as a Second Language - A Phraseological Perspective

The purpose of this book is to explore two main aspects: firstly, it provides a summary of research findings related to the learning and application of English articles by non-native speakers; secondly, it examines the issue from a phraseological standpoint. The book delves into different linguistic interpretations of the English article system, highlighting their implications for teaching English as a second language. With an increasing number of studies suggesting that language usage is largely phraseologically driven, this work proposes a link between formulaicity and the accurate use of articles. This connection is investigated through two studies in the concluding chapter, which demonstrate that the proper use of articles is influenced by the frequency of the phrases they occur in. These results align with the idea that conventional language patterns, informed by frequency, may influence how learners acquire and use articles in English as a second language.

This study represents a significant addition to the discourse on the acquisition of articles by learners of English, especially in the context of English as a second language. Given the myriad opinions on this topic and the often inadequate instructional guidance available to ESL teachers, such a discussion is both necessary and timely. Dr. Leśniewska's work not only thoroughly reviews the pertinent literature but also suggests a much-needed approach to the acquisition of articles in L2 English.

Prof. David Singleton, Fellow Emeritus, Trinity College