5 Language distance and psycho typology Language distance

5. Language distance and psycho typology Language distance; the distance between the native and the target language. Distance can be viewed as both a linguistic phenomenon or a psycholinguistic phenomenon.

Language distance can affect L 2 learning either through positive transfer or through negative transfer

Psycho typology Kellerman (1977) has claimed that learners possess a psychotypology and that it is rather than actual distance, that triggers or constraints transfer. Learners form ‘projections’ about what can be transferred on the basis of their beliefs, whether that native and the target languages are the same.

Kellerman argues that learners’ psychotypology is not fixed, it is revised as they obtain more information about the target language. Dutch learners of German may start out with the assumption that the target language is very similar to their mother tongue, but later on come to adjust this perception as they recognize many differences.

6. Developmental factors The constraints that developmental factors impose on L 1 transfer will be considered with reference to 1. The extent to which transfer is evident at different levels of development, and 2. the complex interplay between natural principles of L 2 acquisition and transfer.

Learner’s general level of development § Such a view suggest that transfer will be more evident in the early than the later stage of development. § The students in less advanced classes were more likely to make translation errors that reflected their L 1 than students in more advanced classes, who produced more overgeneralization errors.

Towards a theory of first language transfer An important distinction is between transfer in L 2 communication and transfer in L 2 learning. According to Kasper (1984 b) Transfer in communication involves the use of the L 1 to either receive incoming message (reception) or to process out put (production) Transfer In learning occurs when the learner uses the L 1 in the attempt to develop hypotheses about L 2 rules.

Learning transfer Schachter argues that learners construc and reconstruct hyphotheses by means of inductive inferencing and deductive inferencing. Learning takes place when the learner chooses a domain and the specific hypotheses to be tested; it can contribute to both correct and incorrect hyphotheses.

Communication transfer involves both production and comprehension transfer. Transfer in communication is motivated by the learner’s desire to comprehend or produce messages.

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