Question

What role can a learner's mother tongue play, according to the 'Principle of Mother Tongue Influence'?

• A. It should be completely ignored
• B. It can have positive transfer or interference
• C. It is never helpful in second language learning
• D. It should only be used for advanced vocabulary

Answer 1

Answer:

B. It can have positive transfer or interference

Principle of Mother Tongue Influence

• This principle, central to language acquisition and pedagogy, posits that a learner's first language (mother tongue) significantly impacts their learning of a second language (L2).
• It suggests that the structures, vocabulary, and phonology of the mother tongue can either aid or hinder the learning process of the L2.
• Positive Transfer (Facilitation): When features of the mother tongue are similar to those of the L2, learners can leverage this similarity for easier comprehension and production. For example, if both languages share cognates (words with similar origins and meanings) or grammatical structures, learning can be accelerated.
• Negative Transfer (Interference/Inhibition): Conversely, when there are significant differences between the mother tongue and the L2, learners may experience interference. This occurs when they incorrectly apply L1 rules or patterns to the L2, leading to errors. Examples include mispronunciation due to different phonemic systems or incorrect sentence structures based on L1 grammar.
• Implications for Language Teaching: Understanding this principle is crucial for language teachers. They can identify potential areas of difficulty for learners based on their L1 background and design instruction to address these challenges proactively. This might involve contrastive analysis (comparing L1 and L2) and providing targeted practice for areas prone to interference.
• Competitive Exam Relevance: Questions on this topic often appear in exams assessing pedagogical knowledge, particularly in English Language Teaching (ELT) and related fields. Understanding positive and negative transfer is key to answering questions about common L2 learning errors and effective teaching strategies.