Lexical Richness in Free Writing by Advanced Japanese Learners of English

Abstract

This study intends to clarify the features of lexical richness in free writing by advanced Japanese learners of English at B2 level and C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Japan (CEFR-J). Free writings by 65 learners of English at CEFR-J B2 level and C1 level were analyzed from the perspectives of lexical variation and lexical sophistication in lexical richness. Findings indicate that lexical sophistication showed a moderately positive correlation in a holistic evaluation of the free writings, but no correlation was found for lexical variation by this evaluation. Between lexical variation and lexical sophistication, there was evidence of a moderately positive correlation. In the relation between lexical richness and the learners’ English proficiency, no significant difference was detected in lexical variation between learners at CEFR-J B2 level and C1 level , on the other hand, a significant difference was detected in lexical sophistication. An analysis of the free writings based on CEFR-J Wordlist Version 1.0 indicated that high-frequency words constituted approximately 70 percent and middleto-low-frequency words constituted approximately 30 percent of the texts. Another analysis based on the wordlist indicated a significant difference in the usage of middle- to-low-frequency words between learners at CEFR-J B2 level and C1 level.