Cataloged from PDF version of article.The aim of this study was to see the influence of extroversion/introversion
continuum on learners’ verbal tendencies and interactive behaviors. In addition, this
study also tried to discover learners’ perception of the influence of their personality
on their interactive behaviors.
The study was conducted in Ankara University, School of Foreign
Languages, involving nineteen participants. The relevant data was collected in three
steps. First, students were given a personality inventory test, so that their
personalities could be identified. After the test results were obtained four introverted
and four extroverted students were chosen for the rest of the study. In the second
step, subjects were asked to participate in a set of speaking tasks. Finally, an
interview with the subjects was conducted to be informed about learners’ understanding of the link between their personality and verbal tendencies. The data
collected from the speaking tasks was first transcribed and than analyzed according
to the categories established as interactional behaviors and speech production.
The results showed that, learners with extroversion and introversion
tendencies differed in terms of the way they communicate in L2. While extroverts
inclined to start most of the conversations, introduce new topics to the speech and
make restatements, introverts tended to ask questions. With respect to speech
production, extroverts were found to produce longer sentences, employ more filled
pauses and self-corrected utterances. As to second research question, the results
revealed that both extroverted and introverted subjects were aware of the effect of
their personality on their language behavior.Abalı, FundaM.S