What is grammar? Does grammar matter? These and other fundamental issues will not be answered in this talk. However, the presentation will discuss ways of analyzing data in order to examine the correctness of certain grammatical structures in spontaneous spoken German at different learner levels as classified by the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. The project will pose questions about the relations between communicative functions and grammar as well as tendencies of order and interdependencies as tested in an Oral Proficiency Interview. Finally grammar will be used to compare the two most important language proficiency scales, the ACTFL Guidelines and the Common European Framework for Languages and related test formats.
The presentation will focus on foundations and ideas in a developing research project, not about results or conclusions – so every contribution to improve the projects design is welcome and will benefit the results.
