CAF: Defining, Refining and Differentiating Constructs

This article critically scrutinizes a number of issues involved in the definition and operationalization of complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) constructs. It argues for maintaining clearer distinctions between CAF, on the one hand, and notions such as linguistic development and communicative adequacy, on the other. Adequacy, in particular, should be considered both as a separate performance dimension and as a way of interpreting CAF measures.