Differences and Similarities: Variability and Fractality in CDST

Variability and fractality, two key concepts in Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST)—the former concerning changes and variations, and the latter concerning recursiveness and self-similarities—may seem contradictory at first glance. This forum piece attempts to elucidate how the two seemingly cont...

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Main Author: Zhizi Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Columbia University Libraries 2023-01-01
Series:Studies in Applied Linguistics & TESOL
Online Access:https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/SALT/article/view/10670
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author Zhizi Chen
author_facet Zhizi Chen
author_sort Zhizi Chen
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description Variability and fractality, two key concepts in Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST)—the former concerning changes and variations, and the latter concerning recursiveness and self-similarities—may seem contradictory at first glance. This forum piece attempts to elucidate how the two seemingly contradictory properties can be reconciled in CDST to examine second language (L2) development. To that end, this piece includes a definition and short epistemological history of each concept, accompanied by a review of some relevant studies. It concludes with two metaphors to illustrate the relationship between variability and fractality, and how the two seemingly irreconcilable ideas can generate a clearer and more panoramic view of L2 development.
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spelling doaj.art-0ade0bbb9d2b46ee8f159dae01bd29de2024-03-22T20:20:26ZengColumbia University LibrariesStudies in Applied Linguistics & TESOL2689-193X2023-01-01222Differences and Similarities: Variability and Fractality in CDST Zhizi Chen0Teachers College, Columbia University Variability and fractality, two key concepts in Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST)—the former concerning changes and variations, and the latter concerning recursiveness and self-similarities—may seem contradictory at first glance. This forum piece attempts to elucidate how the two seemingly contradictory properties can be reconciled in CDST to examine second language (L2) development. To that end, this piece includes a definition and short epistemological history of each concept, accompanied by a review of some relevant studies. It concludes with two metaphors to illustrate the relationship between variability and fractality, and how the two seemingly irreconcilable ideas can generate a clearer and more panoramic view of L2 development. https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/SALT/article/view/10670
spellingShingle Zhizi Chen
Differences and Similarities: Variability and Fractality in CDST
Studies in Applied Linguistics & TESOL
title Differences and Similarities: Variability and Fractality in CDST
title_full Differences and Similarities: Variability and Fractality in CDST
title_fullStr Differences and Similarities: Variability and Fractality in CDST
title_full_unstemmed Differences and Similarities: Variability and Fractality in CDST
title_short Differences and Similarities: Variability and Fractality in CDST
title_sort differences and similarities variability and fractality in cdst
url https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/SALT/article/view/10670
work_keys_str_mv AT zhizichen differencesandsimilaritiesvariabilityandfractalityincdst