L1 Syntactic Interference in ESP Students’ Writing Assignments

Abstract

In second/foreign language learning, learners often have their prior knowledge of their first language interference in producing their L2, whether it is in spoken or written form. As Weinreich points out four types of interference, the interference may occur in any aspect of linguistic, including syntax. Researcher conducted a study related to this issue by analyzing L1 syntactic interference occurs in students’ writing assignments. This article focuses on theoretical grounding of some factors that may cause L1 syntactic interference to appears in ESP students’ writing assignments. Researcher followed qualitative descriptive methods in this research with documents analysis and questionnaire as the means to collect the data of this study. Documents are in the form of writing assignments from economic students in ESP class at STES Manna Wa Salwa Padang Panjang. The data was analyzed by using several steps such as identifying, classifying, analyzing, and interpreting. From the documents analysis, researcher found out L1 syntactic interference in students’ L2 writing occur in all aspects of syntax, such as in phrases, clauses, and sentences. Based on some findings and discussion from the questionnaire, it was found that interlingual and intralingual factor are the main factors which cause interference to happen. Interlingual factor happens due to several system differences of syntax between L1 (Bahasa Indonesia) and L2 (English), while intralingual factor is due to students’ habit of their native language and lack of practice in improving their L2. L1 interference occurs a lot in students’ writing product and it affects their L2 writing efficiency.