A Case Study on the Syntactic Complexity of Second Language Writing under Dynamic Systems Theory

This study combines Dynamic Systems Theory and case study methods to conduct an in-depth analysis of the syntactic complexity of second language writing. Forty-eight English writing samples from six non-English major college students at Software Engineering Institute of Guangzhou were regularly collected through the Pigai website. According to the description of the six indicators of syntactic complexity in L2SCA, SPSS statistical software was used to conduct quantitative analysis and time series analysis, the dynamic changing patterns of syntactic complexity in writing samples was depicted and combined with regular retrospective interviews. This study reveals that (1) the index shows a dynamic and systematic change trend over time, manifesting as volatility, nonlinearity and non-uniformity, which is in line with the Dynamic Systems Theory on second language acquisition development and changes prediction. (2) There are individual differences in the change patterns and speeds of syntactic complexity indicators among case learners, which may be related to factors such as learners’ cognitive style, learning motivation and strategies. This study provides empirical research evidence and practical guidance for related research on the syntactic complexity of second language writing.