1.2. Contrastive analysis (CA)
and Error analysis (EA)
CA: Linguists examining the target
language and contrasting it with the
mother tongue. EA: Learners who share
the same mother tongue simply do not
speak the L2 in axactly the same way.
1.3. Interlanguage
It is the existence of a
"special" language,
created by the individual,
and standing midway
between the mother
tongue and the target
language.
it is also called by
Nemser like"an
approximative
system"
James called it
"interlingua"
Larry Selinker
coined the term
"interlanguage"
1.4. The general
characteristics of
interlanguage
Idiolect: the language
system of an individual as
expressed by the way he
or she speaks or writes
within the overall system
of a particular language.
Variable and
systematic: they are
unstable and
dynamic.
1.5. Psycholinguistic and
sociolinguistic aspects
Psycholinguistics was defined
by Scovel as the "study of the
normal and abnormal use of
language and speech to gain
a better understanding of
how the human mind
functions.
Elaine Tarone proposes
that IL consists of
different styles and its
linguistic and
phonological
characteristics change
according to the social
context.
1.6. Linguistic processes in
the construction of
interlanguage
Selinker sees the
development of IL as
resting on five central
cognitive processes.
1. Language
transfer; some
items, rules, and
subsystems of a
learner´s IL may be
transferred from
the first language.
1.6.1. The nature of
transfer: Richard
defines transfer as
"the use of elements
from one language
while speaking
another.
1.6.2. TRansfer:
Positive and
negative"
Positive transfer: it
facilitates learning
and happens when
there is a
coincidence of
elements between
the L1 and the L2.
Negative transfer
(interference); It refers
to the use of a structure
or element of the L1 that
it is not appropriate in
the L2, thereby
producing an error.
1.6.4.
Overgeneralization
It is defined by Ellis as "The
oversuppliance of an interlanguage
feature in contexts in which it does not
occur in target language use.
Overgeneralizations result in errors.
Its two main features: 1. the tendency to use
regular forms where possible and 2. to simplify
elements and structures (regularisation and
simplification).
1.6.3. Transfer
and language
universals
2. Overgeneralization of
target language
structures; some
interlanguage elements
are the result of a "clear
overgeneralization" of
target language rules
and semantic features.
3. Transfer of
training; some IL
elements may derive
from the way in
which learners are
taught.
Some erroneous IL
features may be
caused by the way in
which learners are
taught.
4. Strategies used in
second language
learning; Selinker
defines a strategy as "an
identifiable approach
by the learner to the
material to be learned"
1. Cognitive
strategies are those
involved in the
analysis, synthesis,
or transformation of
learning materials.
2. Metacognitive
strategies are those
involved in planning,
monitoring, and
evaluating learning
3. Social/affective
strategies concern
the ways in which
learners choose to
interact with other
speakers.
5. Strategies used in
second language
communication;
These are "an
identifiable approach
by the learner to
communication with
native speakers of the
TL"
Communication
strategies have been
defined in a number of
different ways :
A systematic technique employed by a
speaker to express his meaning when
face with some difficulty (Corder
1978).
A mutual attempt of two interlocutors
to agree on a meaning in situations
when requisite meaning structures are
not shared (Tarone 1980).
Potentially conscious plans for
solving what an individual
presents to itself as a problem in
reaching a particular
communicative goal (Faerch and
Kasper 1986).
Techniques of coping with
difficulties in communicating in
an imperfectly known second
language (Stern 1983).
All these meanings have
three features in
common;
problematicity,
consciousness, and
intentionallity.
1.7. The process of
fossilization in
interlanguage
It refers to the process
whereby a learner´s IL
development stops
some way short of
target language norms.
1.7.1. Causes of fossilization: Internal
factors; age and the lack of desire to
aculturate and external factors;
Communicative pressure, lack of
learning opportunity and the nature of
feedback on learner´s use of L2