The L2 Effects On L1:Evidence From The Positions Of Attributive Modifiers

Language transfer has always been one of the heated topics in the field of applied linguistics and second language acquisition(SLA).In the traditional sense,language transfer means the influence of mother language(L1)in the course of SLA,including intra-language influences,such as accent,vocabulary,grammar,semantics and so on,as well as influences beyond language like the mode of thinking and cultural tradition.However,in the course of SLA,the first language(L1)would also take on some features of the second language(L2)gradually,that is,the L2 effects on L1,which is sometimes referred to as "reverse" or "backward" transfer.Yet the studies on the definitions and the theoretical mechanisms of the L2 effects on L1 have not been paid much attention to.Thus,this study aims to investigate the sustained L2 effect on L1 by analyzing changes in ESL learners' tolerance of Chinese sentences to post-positioned attributive modifiers in different periods after they receive an English intensive training of attributive clauses.This study would first review the previous studies of the L2 effects on L1,and then investigate the tolerance changes among ESL learners' in judging the Chinese sentences with post-positioned attributive modifiers after an intensive training of L2 attributive clauses.To be specific,three research questions are to be proposed:(1)Will L2 intensive training have a sustained effect on learners' L1 grammatical tolerance?(2)If yes,will L2 proficiency modulate the sustained L2 effect on learners' L1 grammatical tolerance?(3)Will gender difference modulate the sustained L2 effect on learners' L1 grammatical tolerance?The participants chosen in this study were 42 Chinese students who acquired English as a second language in a junior middle school.These participants received a week-long intensive training on English attributive clauses.The three tests measuring the tolerance in judging the Chinese sentences with post-positioned attributive modifiers were given to the participants immediately,and then 2 and 3 weeks after the intensive training,respectively.The data collected were then analyzed through SPSS.The results obtained indicated:L2 intensive training did have a sustained effect on the L1 grammatical tolerance.To be specific,ESL learners became more tolerable toward Chinese sentences with post-positioned attributive modifiers and showed a sustained effect imposed by intensive training.Moreover,L2 proficiency would modulate the sustained L2 effect on learners' L1 grammatical tolerance.Participants with high L2 proficiency were more susceptible to the sustained L2 effect on learners' L1 grammatical tolerance.Besides,gender difference did not modulate the sustained L2 effect on learners' L1 grammatical tolerance.