Published

2018-01-01

Addressing the Problem of Negative Lexical Transfer Errors in Chilean University Students

Cómo abordar el problema de la transferencia negativa de léxico en estudiantes universitarios chilenos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v20n1.64911

Keywords:

First language influence, fossilization, lexical errors, lexical transfer, second language production (en)
errores léxicos, fosilización, influencia del primer idioma, producción en el segundo idioma, transferencia léxica (es)

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Authors

  • Paul Anthony Dissington

Studies of second language learning have revealed a connection between first language transfer and errors in second language production. This paper describes an action research study carried out among Chilean university students studying English as part of their degree programmes. The study focuses on common lexical errors made by Chilean Spanish-speakers due to negative first language transfer and aims to analyse the effects of systematic instruction and practice of this problematic lexis. It is suggested that raising awareness of lexical transfer through focused attention on common transfer errors is valued by students and seems essential for learners to achieve productive mastery.

Los estudios del aprendizaje del segundo idioma señalan una conexión entre transferencia del primer idioma y errores en la producción del segundo. Este artículo describe un estudio de investigación acción llevado a cabo con estudiantes chilenos en cursos de inglés como parte de sus carreras universitarias. El estudio se enfoca en errores comunes en el léxico producidos por hispano-parlantes chilenos debido a la transferencia negativa del primer idioma y tiene como objetivo analizar los efectos de la instrucción sistemática y práctica del léxico que genera problemas. Se sugiere que la creación de conciencia de la transferencia del léxico a través de la atención enfocada en errores comunes de transferencia es valorada por los estudiantes y parece esencial para que logren un dominio en la producción.

References

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Addressing the Problem of Negative Lexical Transfer Errors in Chilean University Students. (2018). Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, 20(1), 25-40. https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v20n1.64911

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