Language Transfer: Cross-Linguistic Influence in Language Learning (Cambridge Applied Linguistics) (Paperback)

by Terence Odlin (Author) "When people hear a speaker with a "foreign accent," they often try to guess the speaker's background..." (more)
Key Phrases: substratum transfer, native language influence, phonetic mimicry, United States, American English, Universal Grammar (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"I find this book to be extremely readable...I believe that the incorporation of the glossary will make it as readable and enjoyable for students as it was for me. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a book that has long been needed and for which there will be great demand." Jacquelyn Schachter, Language "This book is packed with information gleaned from the author's comprehensive review of the literature on the long-controversial topic of language transfer...One need not be a linguist or psychologist to profit from reading the work, as it is written in a very readable, non-technical style, and a glossary is provided for the limited number of technical terms the author does use." Gordon L. Jackson, Polylingua

Product Description
Terence Odlin reconsiders a question that many language teachers and educational researchers have addressed: how much influence can a learner's native language have in making the acquisition of a new language easy or difficult? Transfer has long been a controversial issue, but many recent studies support the view that cross-linguistic influences can have an important impact on second language acquisition. Odlin analyzes and interprets research showing many ways in which similarities and differences between languages can influence the acquisition of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. In addition he provides a detailed look at work on other areas important for the study of transfer including discourse, individual variation, and sociolinguistic factors. Language teachers, applied linguists, and educational researchers will find this volume highly accessible and extremely valuable to their work.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (June 30, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521378095
• ISBN-13: 978-0521378093
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #892,205 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)