Language Transfer

In the case of multilingual learners it is not only
the native language that influences their performance
in their other languages, but also other previously
learned languages. It is interesting to observe
which of the learner s previous languages has more
influence on the newly acquired language.
The present study investigated the influence of the
native language and a second language on a tertiary
language. It compared the performances of Hungarian
learners knowing German as a second language and
English as a tertiary language, with that of learners
knowing English as a second language. The goal was to
find out whether a dissimilar native language or a
similar second language was more helpful in the
production of different linguistic features in
English. These features were false cognates,
prepositions, idioms and proverbs.
The results have shown that not only the dissimilar
native language Hungarian but also the similar
language German was harmful in the performance of the
learners. This book is for those who are interested
in the influence of a native and a second language on
a tertiary language.

Autorentext

Mariann Agócs, Sprachlehrerin: Studium der Germanistik und derAmerikanistik an der Geisteswissenschaftlichen Fakultät derUniversität in Szeged, Ungarn. Sprachlehrerin in einerMittelschule und in einer Sprachschule in Baja.

Klappentext

In the case of multilingual learners it is not onlythe native language that influences their performancein their other languages, but also other previouslylearned languages. It is interesting to observewhich of the learner's previous languages has moreinfluence on the newly acquired language. The present study investigated the influence of thenative language and a second language on a tertiarylanguage. It compared the performances of Hungarianlearners knowing German as a second language andEnglish as a tertiary language, with that of learnersknowing English as a second language. The goal was tofind out whether a dissimilar native language or asimilar second language was more helpful in theproduction of different linguistic features inEnglish. These features were false cognates,prepositions, idioms and proverbs. The results have shown that not only the dissimilarnative language Hungarian but also the similarlanguage German was harmful in the performance of thelearners. This book is for those who are interestedin the influence of a native and a second language ona tertiary language.