Lexical availability studies in Spanish and English: review of its empirical foundations and methodology

Abstract

First, we aim to find out whether lexical availability studies are based on the review of results obtained by previous research. Secondly, we look at the samples of informants to determine on the one hand if there is uniformity in the size of samples and, on the other, in order to ascertain whether information on variables related to lexical retrieval and production such as sex or linguistic profile is included in the studies. Thirdly, we focus on data collection instruments in order to determine if in addition to the availability test, other tests related to the level of proficiency in the language or knowledge of vocabulary by the informants are included. Finally, the centers of interest are revised as to ascertain the degree of convergence and divergence among the studies under examination and those of previous research.