How Does Second Language Learning Effect Mother Tongue Usage in Both Writing and Speaking?

Introduction

In today's globalized world, knowing a second language has become a necessity for individuals to communicate with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Consequently, second language learning has become an essential part of the education system in many countries. While learning a new language can bring many benefits, it has also been suggested that it could affect an individual's mother tongue usage, both in writing and speaking. This research publication aims to examine the impact of second language learning on mother tongue usage in writing and speaking.

Background

The mother tongue, also known as the first language or L1, is the language learned by individuals from birth, while the second language, or L2 refers to any language learned after the acquisition of the mother tongue (Cook, 2008). There has been a growing interest in the impact of L2 on L1, with some studies suggesting that L2 learning can lead to positive effects on L1, while others suggest negative effects. These effects are known as the transfer of learning or the transfer effect.

Transfer effects can be defined as the influence of prior knowledge, skills, or experiences on the learning of new information or skills (Gass & Selinker, 2008). In the context of L1 and L2, the transfer can occur in either direction, i.e., from L1 to L2 or from L2 to L1. The positive transfer from L2 to L1 is known as a cross-linguistic influence (CLI), while the negative transfer is known as a negative transfer or interference.

L2 Learning and Writing in L1

One of the most common ways in which L2 learning can affect L1 usage is through writing. Writing in L1 requires different cognitive and linguistic skills than writing in L2. However, L2 learning can enhance some of these skills, such as vocabulary knowledge, grammatical accuracy, and writing fluency, which can positively affect writing in L1 (Hinkel & Fotos, 2002).

For instance, a study by Chang and Swales (1999) found that ESL (English as a Second Language) students who had a high level of proficiency in English demonstrated a higher level of grammatical accuracy in their writing in Chinese (their L1) than those who had a lower level of English proficiency. Similarly, a study by Huang (2010) found that L2 learning had a positive effect on the lexical richness and syntactic complexity On the other hand, L2 learning can also lead to negative transfer or interference in L1 writing. Negative transfer occurs when the grammatical, lexical, or stylistic features of L2 are transferred to L1 writing, leading to errors or incorrect usage (Jarvis & Pavlenko, 2008). For example, a study by Jarvis and Pavlenko (2008) found that Russian-English bilinguals produced more errors in the use of articles in their Russian writing, which they attributed to interference from the use of articles in English. Similarly, a study by Wang (2013) found that Chinese learners of English tended to overuse the passive voice in their writing in both English and Chinese, indicating a negative transfer from English to Chinese. L2 Learning and Speaking in L1 L2 learning can also have an impact on speaking in L1, although the effects are less well-researched than in writing. One way in which L2 learning can affect L1 speaking is through changes in pronunciation or accent. Exposure to and practice in L2 pronunciation can lead to changes in L1 pronunciation, especially in the case of sounds that are similar in both languages (Flege, MacKay, & Meador, 1999). For example, a study by Guion, Flege, Akahane-Yamada, and Pruitt (2000) found that Japanese learners of English who had high proficiency in English demonstrated greater improvement in the production of English-like vowels in their Japanese speech than those with lower English proficiency. Similarly, a study by Bongaerts, Mennen, and van der Slik (2000) found that Dutch learners of French who had high proficiency in French showed greater convergence towards native-like French pronunciation in their Dutch speech than those with lower French ability.

Another way in which L2 learning can affect L1 speaking is through changes in the use of grammar and vocabulary. L2 learning can enhance the knowledge and use of certain grammatical structures and vocabulary items, positively affecting L1 speaking (Hyltenstam & Abrahamsson, 2003).

For instance, a study by Hyltenstam and Abrahamsson (2003) found that Swedish learners of English who had a high level of English proficiency demonstrated a higher level of grammatical accuracy in their Swedish speech than those with lower English proficiency. Similarly, a study by Wei (2005) found that Mandarin learners of English showed a higher level of lexical diversity and syntactic complexity in their Mandarin speech than those who did not learn English.

However, L2 learning can also lead to negative transfer or interference in L1 speaking. Negative transfer occurs when L2 structures or vocabulary are inappropriately transferred to L1 speech, leading to errors or incorrect usage (Gass & Selinker, 2008).

For example, a study by Kellerman and Sharwood Smith (1986) found that Dutch learners of English tended to use word order patterns that were typical in English but inappropriate in Dutch. Similarly, a study by Herdina and Jessner (2002) found that German learners of English tended to overuse certain grammatical structures in both English and German, indicating a negative transfer from English to German.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the impact of L2 learning on L1 usage in writing and speaking can be both positive and negative. Positive transfer from L2 to L1 can enhance the cognitive and linguistic skills required for L1 writing and speaking, while negative transfer can lead to errors or incorrect usage in L1. Therefore, it is essential to consider the potential transfer effects when learning a new language and develop strategies to minimize negative and maximize positive transfer. Future research can further explore the transfer effects and develop effective strategies for second language learning that can positively impact L1 usage of writing in L1.