Investigating the extent to which vocabulary knowledge and skills can predict aspects of fluency for a small group of pre-intermediate Japanese L1 users of English (L2)

This chapter explores relationships between vocabulary knowledge and fluent speech. The reporting of multiple vocabulary task scores is an emerging trend in vocabulary research (Clenton et al., 2019; Fitzpatrick & Clenton, 2017) and while fluency papers (De Jong et al., 2013; 2015) report significant relationships with vocabulary measures, these are limited to reporting single vocabulary task scores, and to proficient participants. The current chapter, therefore, reports on a multifaceted approach to exploring vocabulary measures and L2 fluency, with pre-intermediate proficiency learners. Participants completed two vocabulary measures: Lex30 (Meara & Fitzpatrick, 2000), and a vocabulary size task, in a multiple-choice format; and X_Lex (Meara & Milton, 2003), a receptive vocabulary yes/no task. We investigated fluency using measures and indices from earlier fluency papers (De Jong et al., 2013; 2015; De Jong & Mora, 2017). A comparison between the current chapter findings and those from these earlier studies suggests that relationships appear to differ according to proficiency level. We discuss these findings in terms of second language acquisition and consider future implications for future investigations into the relationship between vocabulary and L2 fluency at different proficiency levels.