2026-09-21T04:53:59Z https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/125932 2025-02-13 col_2142_13736 col_2142_5131 com_2142_8975 com_2142_8903 com_2142_5130

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125932 Dissertation/Thesis An investigation of second language learners' ability to resolve Anaphora in texts Yerkovic, Maria Eugenia Boudeguer 1991 Cowan, Ron Teaching English as Second Language Anaphora resolution ESL learners Proficiency levels Vocabulary and anaphoric ties eng This study investigated the resolution of anaphora by adult ESL learners of different proficiency levels. Two reading tests were given containing several common pro-forms. These represented two types of anaphora, NP and VP, in two conditions, context and no context. NP anaphora was presented in two conditions, near and distant. VP anaphora also had two conditions depending on the location of the pronoun with respect to its antecedent: forward and backward. The influence of vocabulary was also examined. Within the same study, the performance of four language groups was compared in order to check current hypotheses about directionality preference. The results of the study revealed that context did not facilitate resolution of anaphora; that distance was a significant factor, and that backward anaphora was definitely more difficult than forward anaphora. Therefore, the forward preference hypothesis is supported. Also, the results indicated that NP anaphora was easier than VP anaphora, and vocabulary was a significant factor in resolving anaphoric ties. Some implications for future research and teaching of English as a second language are discussed. text Copyright owned by the author. Teaching English to speakers of other languages Linguistics Teaching English as a Second Language University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign M.A. Thesis