The Influence of native tongue in the acquisition of a second language
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Objective:
To discuss the impact of the learner's L1 on the acquisition of a L2.
There are several phrases to choose from when referring to the phenomenon of Language transfer: L1 interference, linguistic interference, and crosslinguistic influence.
This is the situation arisen when a speaker applies knowledge of linguistic features from one language to another language. It is a common phenomenon when someone does not have a native-level command of a second language.
Language Transfer is caused by such phenomena as borrowing patterns from the mother tongue, extending patters from the target language, and expressing meanings using the vocabulary and syntax which are already known (Richards, Platt, & Platt, 1992).
Examples of language transfer errors made by speakers of Spanish when they speak English:
Vocabulary
|
Transfer
error
|
Real
meaning in Spanish
|
Actually
|
Actualidad
|
En realidad
|
Carpet
|
Folder
|
Carpeta
|
Library
|
Biblioteca
|
Bookstore
|
I will read my book and the yours also.(Voy a leer mi libro y el tuyo también.)
Our uncle is doctor. (Nuestro tio es doctor.)
The other childs got lost. (Los otros niños se perdieron.)
He found two shirts of different colors and bought the blue. (El encontro dos camisas de diferentes colores y compró la azul.)
For what did they come? (¿Para qué vinieron?)
I live here since 1995. (Vivo aqui desde 1995.)
Every child should assist to school. (Todos los niños deben asistir a la escuela.)
One definition of transfer is the influence resulting from the similarities and differences between the target language and any other language that has been previously (and perhaps imperfectly acquired) (Odlin, 1989, p. 7).
Learning Strategies in Second Language Acquisition
If you want to know more about learning strategies this is a very good article.