attribution theory n
the theory that the causes people attribute to perceived successes and
failures in their lives play a significant role in their subsequent level of
motivation and behaviour. For example, learners may attribute their
relative success or failure in language learning to such factors as ability,
the classroom environment, good or poor teaching, interest, strategy use,
support from others, etc. Attributions can be classified on the basis of locus
of control(internal factors such as effort vs. external factors such as the
textbook or teaching method), stability(stable factors such as personality
vs. unstable factors such as mood), and controllability(controllable factors
such as effort vs. uncontrollable factors such as language aptitude). Although
there may be a self-serving biasthat leads to ascribing success to internal
factors and failures to external ones, it is generally believed that learners
who attribute both success and failure to internal factors such as effort are
most likely to maintain their motivation at a high level.
attributive adjective n
an adjective which is used before a noun.
For example, good in a good book is an attributive adjective.
An adjective which is used after a verb, especially after the verbs be,
become, seem, etc. is called a predicative adjective. For example, good in
The book was very good.
Many adjectives in English are like good, and can be used both attributively
and predicatively, but some, like main and utter, can only be used attribu-
tively, e.g. a busy main road, an utter fool, and some, like afraid and asleep,
can only be used predicatively e.g. The boy was asleep, The dog seems afraid.
Many nouns in English can also be used attributively, e.g. paper in a paper
cup. Languages differ in the extent to which they use adjectives attribu-
tively, predicatively, or in both positions.
see also adjective
attriters n
see language attrition
attriting language n
see language attrition
attrition n
see language attrition
audience n
when writing any type of text, the writer’s understanding of the readers
for whom the text is intended. The writer’s understanding of the readers’
audience