Essay On Interlingual Interference

Interlingual Interference

Language transfer or interlingual interference are also known as interlingual errors. It is defined as the result of language transfer which is caused by the first language of the learner. It is said that these kind of errors occur when the habits of the learners including system, pattern or rules interfere of prevent him/ her from acquiring the patterns and rules of the second language. Lado stated that interference is negative influence of mother tongue in performing the target language. Learners translate word by word idiomatic expressions, vocabulary and even grammatical rules of the learners’ first language into the second language. It is believed that the type of errros made by the learners of the target language can be predicted and their causes can be determined. Another study states that if the learners of a foreign language make mistake in the target language by effect of his mother

It is stated that intralingual interference refers to items produced by learner, which reflect not the structure of mother tongue, but in the generalization based on partial exposure of the target language. These types of errors are caused by the target language itself.

According to Richards (1971) Intralingual errors are also subdivided to the following categories: over-genelization, simplification, communication base, induced errors, analogical errors, ignorance of rule restriction, incomplete application of rules and false hypothesis.

1.Over-generalization

This is the use of one form or construction in one context and extending its application on another context where it should not be applied. Examples of over-generalization includes the use of comed and goed as the past tense forms of come and go.