Scholarly record
THE INTERFERENCE OF L1 LATIN-BASED LANGUAGES ON STUDENTS STUDYING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
Abstract
This paper aims to investigate borrowings among Latin-based L1 learners of English as a foreign language analyzing the interference of L1 and positive transfer of Italian and Spanish so as to provide significant empirical evidence which could contribute to SLA research and identify potential implications for L2 pedagogy. The focus of this investigation is to help move opinions on borrowings or L1 transfer from superficial to detailed and analytical insight into a specific group of EFL learners. The stimulus for this inquiry comes from our teaching experiences of English as a foreign language at the University of Cassino and from articles of TESOL that we read in order to have a broader view of this topic. This study was conducted at the University of Malta and the data gathering process consists of a qualitative and a quantitative approach through 3 tasks plus a questionnaire structured for twelve Italian and Spanish undergraduate EFL students. The literature review analyses theoretical issues regarding borrowings in SLA and the interference of L1 on EFL students. Findings suggest that Latin-based native speakers have a good ability to acquire English grammar, however, they also show evidence of L1 interference and processing difficulties that are in part due to the L1 background.
Publication Impact Profile
Publication details
References15
Bryman, A. (2001). Social Research Methods, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Dechert, H., & Raupach, M. (Eds.). (1989). Transfer in language production. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Downing, P. 91980). Factors influencing lexical choice in narrative, in W.L. Chafe (Ed.), The Pear Stories: Cognitive, cultural, and linguistic aspects of narrative production, Norwood, NJ Ablex.
Doughty & M, Long. (2003). The Handbook of Second Language Acquisition, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Jarvis, S. (2000). Methodological Rigor in the Study of Transfer: Identifying L1 influence in the interlanguage lexicon, in Language Learning 50 (2): 245-309 Le Fabuleux Destin D’amelie Poulain. Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001.
Kellerman, E. (1995). Crosslinguistic influence: Transfer to nowhere? Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 15: 125 – 150.
Kohn, K. (1986).The Analysis of Transfer in E. Kellerman & M. Sharwood Smith, (eds.) (1986) Crosslinguistic Influence in Second Language Acquisition, Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Kumar, R. (2011). Research Methodology: a step-by-step guide for beginners, 2nd ed. London: Sage publications.
Lado, R. (1957) Linguistics Across Cultures, Ann Arbor: University of Michican Press Gass, S, M. Input and Interaction in C. J. Doughty & M, Long. (2003) The Handbook of Second Language Acquisition, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Mitchell, R., Myles, F., & Marsden, E. (2013). Second Language Learning Theories, Oxon: Routledge.
Myles, F. (2005). The emergence of Morpho-syntactic structure in French L2 in J-M. Daewale (2005) Focus on French as a foreign language: multidisciplinary approaches. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. O’Grady The Radical Middle: Nativism without Universal Grammar in C. J. Doughty & M.
Ringbom, H. (1987). The role of the first language in foreign language learning. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Selinker, L. (1992). Rediscovering Interlanguage. London: Longman.
Sridhar, K. K., & Sridhar, S. N., (1986). Bridging the paradigm gap: second language acquisition theory and indigenized varieties of English. World Englishes, 5 (1): 3-14.
Swan, M. (2008). The influence of the mother tongue on secnd language vocabulary acquisition and use, Available: http://www.mikeswan.co.uk/elt-applied-linguistics/influencesecond-language.htm [Access date 09 Sep. 2025].
Weinreich, U. (1953). Languages in Contact, The Hague: Mouton Publishers.
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.