Does a second language develop like a tree: Fractal growth in second language development

A Zipf’s distribution in use of verbs has been found for locative and ditransitive constructions used by natives speakers and second language learners. The current study investigated second language learners’ texts on the basis of sentence constructions (copula, intransitive, monotransitive, ditransitive and complex-transitive), verb variety in these constructions, use of be and have, and use of tenses. It was found that at each level there is fractal growth in sentence constructions, verb variety, use of be and have and use of tenses. In other words, the second language learners’ language systems underwent a similar type of change at each level. It is concluded that these aspects develop simultaneously.