Yang, Zhiming 
ORCID: 0009-0004-2556-0124
(2024)
“It appears helpful, but……”: An Investigation of Communication Strategies, Willingness to Communicate and Second language Anxiety from a Sociocultural Perspective.
PhD thesis, University of Liverpool.
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Abstract
This thesis investigates how participants in a study abroad context recognise the function and form of communication strategies, utilise strategies in communication, and perceive strategies in relation to their willingness to communicate and foreign language anxiety. A sample of Chinese students from various British universities volunteered for this mixed-methods study, primarily employing qualitative methods (diaries, stimulated recall, and semi-structured interviews), and supplemented by quantitative approaches (questionnaires, recognition tasks and spot the difference tasks). To familiarise participants with the taxonomy of strategies and to encourage reflection on their routinised strategic behaviours, a one-to-one introductory session on communication strategies was provided. The results in this study demonstrated that participants’ recognition and utilisation of strategies were not only due to linguistic insufficiencies (e.g., unknown words or phrases), but also their objectives in a conversation (e.g., achieving a mutual understanding, or avoiding further interaction). They acknowledged in semi-structured interviews that their awareness of communication strategies had increased. Interpreting data from a sociocultural perspective, communication strategies functioned as mediators and facilitators, prompting them to re-evaluate their expectation and self-identity, resulting in higher willingness to engage in communication and lower levels of anxiety. Additionally, the findings highlighted the interchangeability of participants’ communicative goals, influenced by sociocultural factors, such as the status/number of their interlocutors, social responsibilities, familiarity with the environment/interlocutors, and excitement about topics. This, in turn, had impacts on strategic behaviours, willingness to communicate, and foreign language anxiety.
| Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
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| Divisions: | Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of the Arts |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Jan 2025 10:30 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Feb 2025 03:08 |
| DOI: | 10.17638/03185204 |
| Supervisors: |
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| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3185204 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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