Amplifiers in Listening Scripts

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine amplifiers in listening scripts (LS) which are appendices to middle school English textbooks (MSET) widely used in Korea. Of the 13 different types of MSET written under the 7th National English Curriculum (7NEC), five preferred textbooks were analyzed in order to know the following: 1) the frequency distribution of amplifiers 2) how the amplifiers collocate with parts of speech 3) whether the amplifiers are utilized for practical use. This study focuses on amplifiers such as really, very, too, and so, which appear most in LS, based on the classification by Biber et al. (1999). It concludes that amplifiers are used 730 times in all. Very is used most, at 257 times (35.21%) in all MSET. Almost all amplifiers collocate with adjectives most, at 456 times (74.75%). Most amplifiers, however, are not aimed at enhancing practical use in listening skill. In designing LS of MSET, text developers and English educators need to consider this study for developing better listening materials.