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Reexamine Language Transfer

Posted on:2007-11-18Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:B HuangFull Text:PDF
GTID:2155360185490217Subject:English Language and Literature
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
"Transfer" is originally a basic concept in psychology. In psychology, it refers to "the phenomenon of previous knowledge being extended to the area of new knowledge, i.e. the influence which the learning or remembering of one thing has on the learning and remembering of another thing". It is Whitney who first used the term to refer to cross linguistic influence (Odin, 1989). However, it was not until the 1950s and 1960s that the term became popular among linguists.The significance of language transfer has long been a controversial topic in second language learning. The definition for this term is on the change, the factors that affect language transfer are disputable, and its positive effect on second language learning is often neglected, while the negative aspect is often over-emphasized.In this thesis, the author gives a general introduction of the term "language transfer", presents the early studies of language transfer, points out the main factors that affect language transfer (linguistic factors, psycholinguistic factors, social-psycholinguistic factors and individual differences) and looks at the often neglected point of language transfer, that is, positive transfer. And the author boldly combines language universals with positive transfer, believing that language universals can promote positive transfer.Language transfer is a complex phenomenon affected by many factors. It plays an important part in second language learning. And the long-neglected positive transfer deserves attention and should be made proper use of. The author hopes that this thesis can shed light on second language learning and teaching and it is the author's hope that more empirical study will be made in this area in the future.
Keywords/Search Tags:Language transfer, second language learning, native language, positive transfer, negative transfer
PDF Full Text Request
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