Language interference

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Language interference (also known as L1 interference, linguistic interference, cross-linguistic interference or transfer) is the result of speaker or writer's first language (L1) on the production of his or her second language (L2). The result affects various aspects of language: grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling, meaning (semantics), and so on. Language interference is most commonly discussed in the context of EAL teaching, but it can occur in any situation where someone does not have a L1 command of a language such when translating into a L2.

Contents

1 Positive and negative transfer
2 Interference types
3 Multiple acquired languages
4 Examples
5 Results of positive transfer
6 Broader effects
7 See also

Positive and negative transfer

When the relevant unit or structure of both languages is the same, it most often results in correct language production called positive transfer, "correct" meaning in line with most L1 speakers' notions of acceptability. Note however that language interference is often discussed as a source of errors known as negative transfer. Negative transfer occurs when speakers and writers transfer items and structures that are not the same in both languages. Within the theory of contrastive analysis, the systematic study of a pair of languages with a view to identifying their structural differences and similarities, the greater the differences between the two languages, the more negative transfer there should be.

Interference types

Interference may be conscious or unconscious. Consciously, learners or unskilled translators may guess when producing L2 speech or text because they have not learned or have forgotten L2 usage. On the other hand, they may not consider that the structures and internal rules of the languages in question are different. Such users could also be aware of both the structures and internal rules yet be insufficiently skilled to put them into practice, and, consequently, often fall back on their first language.

Multiple acquired languages

Interference can also occur between acquired languages. In a situation where French is a L2 and Spanish a L3, an anglophone learner, for example, may assume that a structure or internal rule from French also applies to Spanish.

Examples

Language interference produces distinctive forms of learner English depending on the speaker’s first language. Some well-known examples, usually labeled with a blend of the names of both languages in question, are:

Note that these names are also informally used to describe code-switching, code-mixing, borrowing (using loan words).

Results of positive transfer

The results of positive transfer go largely unnoticed and, thus, are less often discussed. Nonetheless, such results can have a large impact: the result will generally be more positive transfer the closer the two languages are and the more the learner is aware of the relationship between the two languages. For example, an anglophone learner of German may correctly guess an item of German vocabulary from its English counterpart, though word order and collocation are more likely to differ as will connotations. Such an approach has the disadvantage of making the learner more subject to the influence of false cognates.

Broader effects

With sustained or intense contact between L2 and L1 speakers, the results of language interference in a L2 can extend to and affect the L1 production of the L1-speaking community. For example, in North America, L2 speakers of English whose first language is Spanish or French may have a certain influence on L1 English-speakers' use of language when these L1-speakers are in the minority. Locations where this might occur include Québec, Canada and predominantly Spanish-speaking regions and neighborhoods in the U.S.. For details on the latter, locate the U.S. on the map of hispanophone world under Spanish language and consult the list of U.S. communities with Hispanic majority populations.