Language interference is the influence of a learner's first language on their ability to learn or produce a second or foreign language.
Language interference, also known as L1 interference or linguistic transfer, is a phenomenon observed in language learning. Based on the provided reference, language interference is the effect of language learners' first language on their production of the language they learn, or the learners' first language influences their second or and their foreign language. This occurs when the rules, structures, or sounds of a learner's native language (L1) are applied to the language they are currently learning (L2 or foreign language).
This influence can manifest in various ways, sometimes helping the learner (positive transfer) and sometimes hindering them (negative transfer). The term "interference" often specifically refers to the negative aspects, where L1 habits lead to errors in the L2.
Aspects Affected by Interference
As highlighted in the reference, the effect of interference can touch upon many different facets of language. The effect can be in any aspects of language, such as grammar, vocabulary, accent, spelling and so on.
Common areas where L1 interference is observed include:
- Grammar: Applying L1 sentence structures, word order, or grammatical rules (like verb conjugation or article usage) to the L2, even when they differ.
- Vocabulary: Using "false friends" – words that look or sound similar in both languages but have completely different meanings. Sometimes, learners might also translate idiomatic expressions or compound words directly from their L1, resulting in incorrect or unnatural L2 phrases.
- Pronunciation (Accent): Using L1 sounds or intonation patterns when speaking the L2. This is a very common form of interference and contributes significantly to a foreign accent. Learners may substitute L1 sounds for L2 sounds that don't exist in their native language.
- Spelling: Applying L1 spelling conventions to L2 words, particularly when sounds correspond differently to letters between the two languages.
- Semantics: Applying the meaning range of an L1 word to an L2 word that might only cover a subset of those meanings.
Examples of Language Interference
To illustrate how interference works in practice, let's look at a few examples:
- A Spanish speaker learning English might say, "I have 20 years" instead of "I am 20 years old," directly translating the Spanish structure "Tengo 20 años" (I have 20 years). (Grammar)
- A German speaker learning English might put the verb at the end of a subordinate clause, following German syntax, e.g., "He told me that he the book read" instead of "He told me that he read the book." (Grammar/Word Order)
- A French speaker might pronounce the English word "this" with a /z/ sound instead of a /ð/ sound because the latter doesn't exist in French. (Pronunciation)
- A speaker whose L1 doesn't distinguish between /l/ and /r/ sounds (like some East Asian languages) might struggle with minimal pairs like "light" and "right." (Pronunciation)
- An English speaker learning Spanish might confuse "embarazada" (pregnant) with "embarrassed" because they look similar (a false friend). (Vocabulary)
These examples show how the established patterns of the first language can "interfere" with the formation of new patterns in the target language.
Managing Language Interference
While interference is a natural part of language learning, awareness is key. Learners and educators can work to identify areas where L1 structures conflict with L2 structures and focus on practicing the L2 patterns correctly. Strategies include focused listening and speaking practice, paying attention to feedback on errors, and explicit instruction on specific differences between the two languages.
