Analyzing Mother Tongue Interference in Turkish EFL Students' Written Products: A Lexical and Syntactical Perspective

Year 2024, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 116 - 152, 30.06.2024

Samet Hasırcıoğlu , Mustafa Serkan Öztürk

https://doi.org/10.52911/itall.1438891

Abstract

Languages exhibit diverse characteristics and undergo constant evolution. The intricate nature of language interaction during Second Language Acquisition intrigues experts. Language learning involves exposure to multifaceted elements, and despite extensive research, the phenomenon of language transfer remains elusive. This study aims to identify errors stemming from the influence of Turkish, the first language, on the written English proficiency of Turkish learners in a formal setting. The objective is to scrutinize the linguistic domains affected by transfer and assess its impact on the educational process. Additionally, the study investigates the potential correlation between error rates and proficiency levels in the target language (L2). Employing qualitative and quantitative data analysis, the research involves 252 participants, excluding 16 non-native Turkish speakers from the initial 268. Results reveal negative transfer in both lexical and syntactical language aspects. Gathered evidence establishes a robust correlation between specific error types and students' proficiency levels. The study concludes with tailored recommendations to enhance Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and acknowledges its limitations.

Keywords

Second Language Acquisition, Error, Error Analysis, Language Transfer, Mother Tongue Interference

Ethical Statement

İlgili çalışma 2019 yılında savunulmuş olan yüksek lisans tezinden oluşturulduğu için Etik kurul raporu alınamamaktadır. Her iki yazar da etik kurallarına uyduğunu taahhüt eder.

Project Number

1

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