Applying Non-Linguistic Frameworks for Investigating the Language Transfer

Abstract

The taxonomy of transfer is defined with the distinction between linguistic transfer and conceptual transfer. The linguistic transfer is primarily related to linguistic forms and structures of mother tongue and target language, while the conceptual transfer is analyzed in relation to the mental concepts that underlie those non-linguistic forms and structures. This study is based on the premise that nonlinguistic factors concerning language transfer act as both barriers and facilitators to support psychological, biological, and social effects on an individual’s ability to learn a target language. This study attempts to synthesize the theory from the previous studies to give an overview of L1 transfer phases for conducting L1 transfer research, basing on a qualitative method. From these theoretical backgrounds, the author supposes the non-linguistic conceptual frameworks on cross-linguistic influence (CLI) for such kind of research. Eight domains were synchronized and reported in this study as poles of CLI factors: objects, emotion, personhood, gender, number, time, space and motion These frameworks briefly demonstrate how various facets are affecting the way in which L1 transfer affects the functional and structural uses of L2 learners and vice versus.