L1 Interference in SLA: A Study on Turkish L2 Learners of English

Sinan Çakır

doi:10.30703/cije.457047

EN

L1 Interference in SLA: A Study on Turkish L2 Learners of English

Abstract

This paper examines the role of L1 transfer in second language acquisition process. It aims to investigate if adult Turkish L2 learners of English make use of their L1 parameter values while dealing with the target subject-matter in L2 or not. It specifically focuses on four island constraints (Wh-island Constraint, Complex NP Island Constraint, Adjunct Island Constraint and Sentential Subject Constraint) in the target language. The data were collected through a grammaticality judgment test and a wh-question formation test from two learner groups (advanced, N:66; intermediate, N: 68) and a control group (N:58). The results of the study showed that the participants make use of the parameter values of the target language rather than leaning on the ones that their native language possesses. Their performance on the target subject-matter was rather similar that of the control group members. The argument & adjunct asymmetry that exists in their mother tongue was not observed in their L2 productions. These results show that their second language acquisition process is constrained directly by UG rather than indirectly through L1.

Keywords

Second language acquisition,Universal Grammar,Mother tongue influence,Turkish,English

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

-

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sinan Çakır ^*
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 31, 2018

Submission Date

September 4, 2018

Acceptance Date

November 14, 2018

Published in Issue

Year 2018 Volume: 7 Number: 4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30703/cije.457047

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA72LD86WK

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RIS / Bibtex

APA

Çakır, S. (2018). L1 Interference in SLA: A Study on Turkish L2 Learners of English. Cumhuriyet Uluslararası Eğitim Dergisi, 7(4), 469-482. https://doi.org/10.30703/cije.457047

Öz

L1 Interference in SLA: A Study on Turkish L2 Learners of English

Abstract

Keywords

References

Details

Primary Language

Subjects

Journal Section

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Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

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