Examining the dimensionality of vocabulary in English as a second language in Chinese children

Journal article


Xie, Qiuzhi and Yeung, Susanna Siu-Sze. (2025). Examining the dimensionality of vocabulary in English as a second language in Chinese children. Journal of Child Language. 52(3), pp. 729-738. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0305000924000096
AuthorsXie, Qiuzhi and Yeung, Susanna Siu-Sze
Abstract

This study compared a unidimensional model of vocabulary and a two-factor model comprising vocabulary breadth and depth in a second language (L2). A total of 167 Chinese Grade 4 and 5 primary school children (Meanage = 9.96 years old) learning English as an L2 participated in this study, and they were tested on four English vocabulary tests. Our results of confirmatory factor analyses indicate that vocabulary breadth and depth were not two distinct dimensions, and the unidimensional model was supported. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

Keywordsvocabulary breadth; vocabulary depth; second language; English
Year2025
JournalJournal of Child Language
Journal citation52 (3), pp. 729-738
PublisherCambridge University Press
ISSN0305-0009
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1017/S0305000924000096
PubMed ID38487828
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85187985325
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
Page range729-738
FunderRGC General Research Fund, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online15 Mar 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted08 Jan 2024
Deposited07 May 2025
Grant ID18603717
Additional information

© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited.

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