Delphi module

2.1.6
Cross-linguistic influence

2.1.6.1
The Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis

Many people instinctively believe that interference from our mother tongue is a prime source of learner error; some believe that if the L1 could only be banished from the brain, then few errors would be made. Such assumptions informed the Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis, an influential view of second language learning strongly rooted in the behaviourist views of the 1950s and 1960s. This hypothesis stated quite simply that areas of difference between the target language and the first language will cause difficulty for learners, while areas of similarity will lead to ease of learning. This seems quite plausible. English learners of French frequently say Je suis quinze ans (I am 15), while French learners of English say I have fifteen years (J'ai quinze ans). But is it always the case that differences lead to difficulties? Reflective task 8 examines some language differences where the difficulty seems to be in one direction only.

Reflective task 8

French
French and English differ on where object pronouns are placed in the sentence:

English: all objects after the verb	French: object pronouns before the verb
I see the cats -> I see THEM	Je vois les chats* -> Je LES vois*

Assume the Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis:

What errors would you predict English learners will make on the placement of pronouns in French?
What errors do you predict French learners will make on placement of pronouns in English?

Click here for commentary (French).

German
German and English differ as to whether they allow both voiced (b,d and g) and unvoiced consonants (p, t and k) to occur at the end of a word:
English allows both voiced and unvoiced consonants: wet (unvoiced) v. wed (voiced)
German only allows an unvoiced consonant at the end of a word. The German word Hand may be spelled with a final d, but that d is pronounced as /t/.

Assume the Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis:

How will English learners pronounce the German word Hand?
How will German learners pronounce the English word hand?

Click here for Commentary (German).