Transfert dans l’acquisition des expressions idiomatiques en français langue étrangère

Abstract

Introduction: this investigation examines to what extent non-native students usethe knowledge of their first language (L1) to understand and produce idiomaticexpressions in the second language (L2). Methodology: twenty six Colombianstudents of French (Level B2) and twenty six Hispanic students living in Toulouse(level C1) took part in this study. Thirty idiomatic expressions classified in threecategories were evaluated: a) similar in form and meaning to an equivalent ex-pression in Spanish, b) similar to an equivalent expression in Spanish, c) differentfrom an equivalent expression in Spanish. Four tests were made: two productiontests, a reception test and a comprehension test. Results: to test the linguistictransfer hypothesis that identical expressions are easy to understand and pro-duce, while the different expressions present more difficulties in both skills (com-prehension and production), the category of similar expressions would thus nu-ance the transfer hypothesis, and that, particularly in terms of semantic opacity,frequency, structure and lexicon. Conclusion: the didactic approach in French asForeign Language (FFL) must start from what the students know so that as partof their process of L2 acquisition, they address the particularities and differencesbetween L1 and L2.