A Study Of Interference Errors In English Writings Of Senior High Shcool Students From The Perspective Of Related Language Transfer Theories

The study of the role of L1in second language learning has been a central andcontroversial issue ever since the study on language transfer began in the1960s.Studies on language transfer has undergone two periods: contrastive hypothesis periodand inter-language hypothesis period. And many empirical studies on the role of L1insecond language learning have been conducted during those periods. Thus, majortheories related to L1transfer have also been generated.Empirical researches on language transfer show that the influence of L1on SecondLanguage Acquisition (SLA) may result in positive transfer as well as negativetransfer which can be well reflected in all aspects of second language learners’interlanguage.This paper is to give a detailed analysis of the L1interference errors in Englishcompositions of senior high school students. Two theories which have had greatimpact on the study of language transfer comprise the theoretical framework:Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis and Error Analysis theory. Based on those twotheories, the author tries to analyze systematically interference errors in the Englishcompositions of58chosen subjects from No101Senior High School of Zhengzhouand provide reasonable explanation for errors caused by L1transfer. Moreover,implications on teaching of English writing are also given.