Lexical characteristics of near‐native second‐language learners of Swedish

Abstract Various aspects of the vocabulary of near‐native second‐language learners of Swedish were analysed and compared to that of matched native Swedish speakers. Quantitative measures of lexical usage focussed upon comprised lexical density, lexical variation and lexical sophistication. Further, a qualitative and quantitative analysis of lexical errors was carried out. Data were elicited from 36 students attending the second‐year course of the Swedish gymnasieskola (senior high school level). The population comprised 24 bilingual students, among whom 12 had Finnish and 12 had Spanish as their first language, and 12 monolingual Swedish speakers. Both oral and written data were collected from each student, and, from the bilingual students, data were obtained from both their languages. The oral data consisted of retellings of four narratives, while the written data comprised summary reviews of Charlie Chaplin's silent film, Modem Times. Only the Swedish data are considered in this paper. The results are discussed in relation to the current discussion of differing proficiency levels required for everyday context‐embedded, cognitively un‐demand‐ing communication as opposed to literate language use (cf. Cummins, 1983). In addition, the results from the lexical error analysis are related to the concept of fossilisation (Selinker, 1972). Notes This study reports on work carried out in a project on the language of bilingual students in the Swedish gymnasieskola, who are near‐native second‐language speakers of Swedish. The project was initiated and supported by the Swedish National Board of Education. Financial support was also obtained from the Council of Södertälje and from the School of Education in Stockholm.