On the source of linguistic transfer in the learning of -te i- in L3 Japanese

Abstract

"This paper examines the source of linguistic transfer in L3 Japanese in the learning of the -te i- aspect marker, in a context where L1 is Romanian and L2 is English. The analysis of data from two groups of learners (25 beginners and 14 intermediate L3 learners) show that the source of transfer is L1 Romanian, in spite of the fact that some similarities between the properties of L3 and L2 could have favored transfer from L2 English. This conclusion is supported by the fact that, in a comprehension task, both proficiency groups of L3 learners interpreted -te i- predicates as having a habitual value more often than the native speakers who took part in this study. This non-facilitative transfer effect is still found with the intermediate group, mainly with activities, where no clear distinction is attested between the progressive and the habitual values of the -te i- predicates. Overall, L3 learners did not interpret -te i- predicates as progressive more often than the native speakers, which suggests that L2 cannot be the source of transfer. "