Psycholinguistic Aspects ofInterlanguage

L1 Transfer

Abdulaziz Assanosi

Psycholinguistic Aspect of L2

• The study of mental structures andprocesses involved in the acquisitionand use of language.

• Has a prominent role in SLA theories.

• Help the rise of many acquisition models.

• The study of mental structures andprocesses involved in the acquisitionand use of language.

• Has a prominent role in SLA theories.

• Help the rise of many acquisition models.

L1 Transfer

• The influence that L1 exerts over theacquisition of an L2.

• Transfer results in the errors that learnersmake, and the avoidance that they perform.

• Error Analysis deals with errors that learnersmake due to the effect of transfer.

• The influence that L1 exerts over theacquisition of an L2.

• Transfer results in the errors that learnersmake, and the avoidance that they perform.

• Error Analysis deals with errors that learnersmake due to the effect of transfer.

L1 Transfer

• L1 transfer is also termed negative transfer.

• It can occur on many linguistics levels.

• Vocabulary level

• Grammar level

• Discourse level.

• Phonology level

• L1 transfer is also termed negative transfer.

• It can occur on many linguistics levels.

• Vocabulary level

• Grammar level

• Discourse level.

• Phonology level

Example L1 Transfer

• Think of the L1 transfer on the following texts:

• A man was flying on the street. He cutthe red signal. He crashed a parked car.he said to the driver whom he crashedhim, ( I am very sorry, I have nobrakes!!).

• Think of the L1 transfer on the following texts:

• A man was flying on the street. He cutthe red signal. He crashed a parked car.he said to the driver whom he crashedhim, ( I am very sorry, I have nobrakes!!).

Example L1 Transfer

• Think of the L1 transfer on the following texts:

• A man was flying on the street. He cutthe red signal. He crashed a parked car.He said to the driver whom he crashedhim, ( I am very sorry, I have nobrakes!!).

• Think of the L1 transfer on the following texts:

• A man was flying on the street. He cutthe red signal. He crashed a parked car.He said to the driver whom he crashedhim, ( I am very sorry, I have nobrakes!!).

L1 (Arabic) transfer

• On grammar level

• (wish + present)

• Agreement (the others boys, the art ofparagraphs writing, shoes shop)

• Articles ( the boys like football) referringto general

• (the verb to be) my father a teacher, shenice

• On grammar level

• (wish + present)

• Agreement (the others boys, the art ofparagraphs writing, shoes shop)

• Articles ( the boys like football) referringto general

• (the verb to be) my father a teacher, shenice

L1 (Arabic) transfer• Grammar transfer errors (in idioms)

• the eye by the eye (= an eye for an eye)

• the silence is from gold (= silence is golden)

• from the cover to the cover (= from cover to cover)

• a drop in an ocean (= a drop in the ocean)

• in my service (= at my service)

• hand by hand (= hand in hand)

• by any price (= at any price)

• crocodiles' tears (= crocodile tears)

• Grammar transfer errors (in idioms)

• the eye by the eye (= an eye for an eye)

• the silence is from gold (= silence is golden)

• from the cover to the cover (= from cover to cover)

• a drop in an ocean (= a drop in the ocean)

• in my service (= at my service)

• hand by hand (= hand in hand)

• by any price (= at any price)

• crocodiles' tears (= crocodile tears)

L1 (Arabic) transfer

• On vocabulary and (idiom) level

• The electricity cut!!

• He eats bills. (medication)

• Cut the street.

• raining cats and dogs

• a man of straw

• in line with

• thumb a lift

• On vocabulary and (idiom) level

• The electricity cut!!

• He eats bills. (medication)

• Cut the street.

• raining cats and dogs

• a man of straw

• in line with

• thumb a lift

L1 (Arabic) transfer

• On discourse level

• Using of command instead of request.

• Give me something.

• Using of command instead of offer

• Take this pen.

• On discourse level

• Using of command instead of request.

• Give me something.

• Using of command instead of offer

• Take this pen.

Checkpoint

• What do we mean by the psycholinguisticaspects of SLA?

• Define L1 transfer.

• On what levels does L1 transfer occur?

• Give an example of Arabic transfer on the fourlevel (four answers) (your example should bein English.

• What do we mean by the psycholinguisticaspects of SLA?

• Define L1 transfer.

• On what levels does L1 transfer occur?

• Give an example of Arabic transfer on the fourlevel (four answers) (your example should bein English.

Positive transfer

• Sometimes transfer has positive effecton L2 acquisition.

• Positive transfer occur when the samelinguistics element is found in both L1and L2.

• In this case, L1 transfer is believed tofacilitate L2 acquisition.

• Sometimes transfer has positive effecton L2 acquisition.

• Positive transfer occur when the samelinguistics element is found in both L1and L2.

• In this case, L1 transfer is believed tofacilitate L2 acquisition.

Example of positive L1 (Arabic)transfer

• On grammar level.

• Both languages have different third personsingular pronouns for male and female.

• Both languages have definite article system.

• In command, both language has an implicit(you) pronoun.

• etc.

• On grammar level.

• Both languages have different third personsingular pronouns for male and female.

• Both languages have definite article system.

• In command, both language has an implicit(you) pronoun.

• etc.

Example of positive L1 (Arabic)transfer

• On idioms level .• Both languages have the following idiomatic

expressions:• history repeats itself• a white lie• behind his back• twist his arm• the black list• between the lines

• On idioms level .• Both languages have the following idiomatic

expressions:• history repeats itself• a white lie• behind his back• twist his arm• the black list• between the lines

Avoidance

• L1 one transfer can also results inavoidance.

• Learners avoid the structures which areNOT found in their mother language.

• Arabic language speakers are likely toavoid present continuous according tothis view.

• L1 one transfer can also results inavoidance.

• Learners avoid the structures which areNOT found in their mother language.

• Arabic language speakers are likely toavoid present continuous according tothis view.

Checkpoint

• What is positive transfer?

• What is the effect of positivetransfer?

• Give example of Arabic positivetransfer on idiom level.

• Define avoidance.

• When does avoidance happen?

• What is positive transfer?

• What is the effect of positivetransfer?

• Give example of Arabic positivetransfer on idiom level.

• Define avoidance.

• When does avoidance happen?

Theories Regarding L1 Transfer

• Behaviorists view:

• Errors is mainly caused by L1 interference.

• L1 habits prevent learning new L2 habits.

• Learning difficulty can be predicted byidentifying L2 areas which are different fromL1.

• This is called Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis.

• Behaviorists view:

• Errors is mainly caused by L1 interference.

• L1 habits prevent learning new L2 habits.

• Learning difficulty can be predicted byidentifying L2 areas which are different fromL1.

• This is called Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis.

Theories Regarding L1 Transfer

• Mentalists view:

• Very few errors are the results of L1transfer.

• There are other causes likely to causelearners errors.

• This view did not withstand for long time.

• Mentalists view:

• Very few errors are the results of L1transfer.

• There are other causes likely to causelearners errors.

• This view did not withstand for long time.

Theories Regarding L1 Transfer

• Cognitivists view :

• Transfer is a mental process responsible forfossilization.

• It is a mental process which can be viewed asan (input from inside).

• Learners work with the rules they have knownalready.

• Cognitivists view :

• Transfer is a mental process responsible forfossilization.

• It is a mental process which can be viewed asan (input from inside).

• Learners work with the rules they have knownalready.

Objection to L1 Transfer Theory

• Differences between L1 and L2 don’t alwaysresult in learning difficulties.

• Difficulty and easiness is perceived bylearners.

• They know what features are transferrableand what are not.

• Learners development also affect L1 transfer.It doesn’t occur in advanced stages.

• Differences between L1 and L2 don’t alwaysresult in learning difficulties.

• Difficulty and easiness is perceived bylearners.

• They know what features are transferrableand what are not.

• Learners development also affect L1 transfer.It doesn’t occur in advanced stages.

Objection to L1 Transfer Theory

• Interlanguage development cannot constitutea restructuring continuum.

• Learners do not start from L1 and replacerules of L1 one by one. They make temporaryrules and develop them.

• Learners make use of L1 knowledge, Positivetransfer.

• Interlanguage development cannot constitutea restructuring continuum.

• Learners do not start from L1 and replacerules of L1 one by one. They make temporaryrules and develop them.

• Learners make use of L1 knowledge, Positivetransfer.

Objection to L1 Transfer Theory

• The term transfer is not accurate because itmean loss at one side. E.g. (money, sports,jobs)

• According to Oxford dictionary, transfer means(Move from one place to another). This is notthe case in L1 transfer. Learners do not lose L1rules.

• The proper term should be (cross-linguisticinfluence).

• The term transfer is not accurate because itmean loss at one side. E.g. (money, sports,jobs)

• According to Oxford dictionary, transfer means(Move from one place to another). This is notthe case in L1 transfer. Learners do not lose L1rules.

• The proper term should be (cross-linguisticinfluence).

Terminus

• What is the behaviorist view about L1transfer?

• What is the mentalist view about L1 transfer?• What is the cognitivist view about L1 transfer?• Mention some opponents view against L1

transfer.• According to some views, Transfer is not a

proper term. Why? And what is the alternativeterm according to them?

• What is the behaviorist view about L1transfer?

• What is the mentalist view about L1 transfer?• What is the cognitivist view about L1 transfer?• Mention some opponents view against L1

transfer.• According to some views, Transfer is not a

proper term. Why? And what is the alternativeterm according to them?

•Thank You