Syntactic Complexity in Engineering ESP Materials: A Case Study of Oxford English for Electrical and Mechanical Engineering

SYNTACTIC COMPLEXITY IN ENGINEERING ESP MATERIALS: A CASE STUDY OF OXFORD ENGLISH FOR ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Phan Quoc Cuong, M.A.

Binh Duong Economics and Technology University

Corresponding author: cuong.pq@ktkt.edu.vn

Received: 08/02/2026

Revised: 11/02/2026

Accepted: 24/02/2026

DOI: 10.71192/899863pujjth

Abstract

This study examined the syntactic complexity of reading materials in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and its influence on the reading comprehension of B1-level engineering students. Five units from Oxford English for Electrical and Mechanical Engineering were analyzed in terms of sentence length, use of passive constructions, and frequency of nominalization. The findings showed notable variation across units: average sentence length ranged from 12.8 to 24.2 words, with some sentences exceeding 30 words; passive constructions accounted for up to 40% of sentences; and nominalization density reached 11% in the most structurally dense text. Such features may hinder learners’ ability to follow information flow and interpret technical vocabulary. The findings highlight syntactic complexity as an important but often overlooked factor in ESP reading and suggest the need for guided reading, explicit sentence-level analysis, and focused support for passive and nominalized forms. Further research should examine broader texts and learner groups.

Keywords: syntactic complexity, English for Specific Purposes (ESP), reading comprehension, engineering students, nominalization, passive constructions.

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