Transfer From L1 to L2: Interlanguage at Work

Abstract

Related research shows second language (L2) learner uses the principles of first language (L1) to have access to the mental grammar of L2. A Turkish learner is expected to transfer the linguistic components of L1 to L2 during translation. This research statistically investigates if there is a linear relationship between the morpho - syntactic units that are raised to the consciousness level and their translation. The findings show that the learners who attended Turkish classes know the rules, but have not internalized them to be able use them effectively in translation.

Keywords

• first language, second language, positive transfer, interlanguage, universal grammar

References

1. Aksu-Koç A., & Slobin, D. (1985). The acquisition of Turkish. In D. Slobin (Eds.), The
2. crosslinguistic study of language acquisition (Vol. 1, pp. 839–878). Hillsdale,
3. NJ:Lawrence Erlbaum.
4. Aydın, Ö. (2001). İkinci dil ediniminde Evrensel Dilbilgisine erişim: Türkçede erişim varsayımlarının sınanması. Dilbilim ve Uygulamaları Dergisi, 2, 11-30.
5. Bloom, B. S., Engelhart, M. D., Furst, E. J., Hill, W. H., & Krathwohl, D. R. (1979). Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: Book 1 Cognitive Domain. London: Longman Group Limited.
6. Borg, S. (2006) Teacher cognition and language education: Research and practice. London: Continuum.
7. Brown, H. D. (1973). Affective variables in second language acquisition. Language Learning, 23(2), 231-244.
8. Bulut, T. (1996). The availability of Universal Grammar to adult Turkish learners of English: Parameter resetting. Unpublished PhD thesis, Adana: Çukurova University, Turkey.

9. Chomsky, N. (1986). Knowledge of language. New York: Praeger.
10. Devescovi, A., et al. (2005). A crosslinguistic study of the relationship between grammar and lexical development. Journal of Child Language, 32(4), 759-786.
11. De Houwer, A. (1990). The acquisition of two languages from birth. Cambridge University Press.
12. Dulay, H. C. & Burt, M. K. (1974). Natural sequences in child language acquisition. Language learning, 24 (1), 37-53.
13. Flynn, S. (1996). A parameter-setting approach to Second Language Acquisition. In W. C. Ritchie & T. K. Bhatia. (Eds.) Handbook of Second Language Acquisition (pp. 51-128). San Diego: Academic Press.
14. Hamilton, R. P. (2001). The insignificance of learners' errors: A philosophical investigation of the Interlanguage Hypothesis. Language & Communication, 21(1), 73-88.
15. Hawkins, R. D., & Towell, R. (1994). Approaches to Second Language Acquisition. Multilingual Matters.
16. Katamba, F. (1993). Modern Linguistics Morphology. London: MacMillan.
17. Kern, S. (2007). Lexicon development in French-Speaking infants. First Language, 27(3), 227-250.
18. Marcel, E. (1991). Old Turkic word formation. Vol.II. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrasowitz Verlag.
19. McLaughlin, B. (1987). Theories of Second Language Acquisition. London: Edward Arnold.
20. Meisel, J. M. (1997). The acquisition of the syntax of negation in French and German: contrasting First and Second Language Development. Second Language Research, 13(3), 227-263.
21. Mitchell, R., &Myles, F. (1998). Second Language Learning Theories. London: Arnold.
22. Schacter, J. (1996). Maturation and the issue of Universal Grammar in second language acquisition. In W. C. Ritchie & T. K. Bhatia. (Eds.) Handbook of Second Language Acquisition (pp. 93-159). San Diego: Academic Press.
23. Selinker, L. (1972). Interlanguage. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 10(3), 209-231.
24. Smith, M. S. (1994). Second Language Learning: Theoretical foundations. London: Longman.
25. Stubbs, M. (1996). Text and corpus analysis. Blackwell.
26. Talmy, L. (1991). Path to realization. Berkeley Linguistics Society, 17, 480-519.
27. Tietze, A. (1989). Observations on the convergence of passive and medio-reflexive verb forms: The case of Modern Turkish. Studia Linguistica et Orientalia Memoria Haim Blanc Dedicata (pp. 283-288). Wiesbaden: Otto Harrasowitz.
28. White, L. (2000). Second Language Acquisition and Universal Grammar. Cambridge University Press.