{"title":"A comparative study of pragmatic performance of internal modification in continuation tasks of online reviews: Generative AI versus EFL learners","authors":"Hua Cai, Wei Ren","doi":"10.1016/j.system.2025.103929","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) have underscored their potential in second language (L2) pragmatics instruction. This study conducts a comparative analysis of 40 ChatGPT-generated and 40 Chinese EFL learner-produced online continuation reviews, systematically examining pragmatic internal modification across emotional valences. The findings reveal that: 1) In positive reviews, ChatGPT demonstrated superior diversity of lexical intensifiers and appropriate punctuation usage, whereas learners exhibited greater contextual sensitivity in modulating punctuation emphasis across different levels of emotion; 2) In negative reviews, ChatGPT displayed stronger command of genre-specific modality hedges and understaters, but lagged in flexibility in syntactic negating device; 3) Valence effects were stronger on ChatGPT's modification choices compared to EFL learners, suggesting GenAI's priority to predictability and safety and learners' emphasis on authenticity and adaptability. These findings not only enhance our understanding of LLM's pragmatic production capability with regard to internal modification but also propose a tripartite integration framework for ChatGPT in L2 pragmatics instruction: as a pragmatic input facilitator, automated feedback provider, and conversational tutor.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48185,"journal":{"name":"System","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 103929"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0000,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"System","FirstCategoryId":"98","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0346251X25003392","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/11/20 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) have underscored their potential in second language (L2) pragmatics instruction. This study conducts a comparative analysis of 40 ChatGPT-generated and 40 Chinese EFL learner-produced online continuation reviews, systematically examining pragmatic internal modification across emotional valences. The findings reveal that: 1) In positive reviews, ChatGPT demonstrated superior diversity of lexical intensifiers and appropriate punctuation usage, whereas learners exhibited greater contextual sensitivity in modulating punctuation emphasis across different levels of emotion; 2) In negative reviews, ChatGPT displayed stronger command of genre-specific modality hedges and understaters, but lagged in flexibility in syntactic negating device; 3) Valence effects were stronger on ChatGPT's modification choices compared to EFL learners, suggesting GenAI's priority to predictability and safety and learners' emphasis on authenticity and adaptability. These findings not only enhance our understanding of LLM's pragmatic production capability with regard to internal modification but also propose a tripartite integration framework for ChatGPT in L2 pragmatics instruction: as a pragmatic input facilitator, automated feedback provider, and conversational tutor.
期刊介绍:
This international journal is devoted to the applications of educational technology and applied linguistics to problems of foreign language teaching and learning. Attention is paid to all languages and to problems associated with the study and teaching of English as a second or foreign language. The journal serves as a vehicle of expression for colleagues in developing countries. System prefers its contributors to provide articles which have a sound theoretical base with a visible practical application which can be generalized. The review section may take up works of a more theoretical nature to broaden the background.