Musk2016

From emcawiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Musk2016
BibType ARTICLE
Key Musk2016
Author(s) Nigel Musk
Title Correcting spellings in second language learners' computer-assisted collaborative writing
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Spelling corrections, Collaborative writing, Computer-supported cooperative work, Language Learning
Publisher
Year 2016
Language English
City
Month
Journal Classroom Discourse
Volume 7
Number 1
Pages 36–57
URL Link
DOI 10.1080/19463014.2015.1095106
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

Download BibTex

Abstract

The present study uses multimodal conversation analysis to examine how pupils studying English as a foreign language make spelling corrections in real time while doing collaborative computer-assisted project work. Unlike most previous related investigations, this study focuses on the process rather than evaluating the final product. The findings establish how the initiation and correction of (perceived) spelling errors involve varying configurations of three agents: the pupil currently typing, the other pupil and the computer software. Almost 80% of spelling corrections are carried out by the pupil typing with no intervention from the other pupil or the spellchecker. It is argued that here both the ‘triadic ecology’ and the timing of correction trajectories entail a structural preference for self-correction, which in turn reduces the affordances of the spellchecker and collaboration. Nevertheless, the spellchecker and the other pupil do play a role in catching potential misspellings that the typist has missed. Moreover, rather than right-clicking to activate the spellchecker’s menu of spelling suggestions, the typist typically deletes back to before the faulty letter(s) and then re-types words, which suggests the importance of progressivity of the typing flow as well as no need for the spellchecker’s assistance.

Notes