Typological transfer: a factor in the learner language of Hong Kong students?
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
1991
Abstract
In this study, we investigate the role of language typology and its relationship to language transfer in Hong Kong Cantonese-speaking learners of English following the method developed by Rutherford (1983). Thirty Cantonese-speaking F.2 students were first tested in elicited production of complex sentences on a pre-defined topic. In the next test, fifty Cantonese-speaking Chinese students ranging from F.1 to F.5 were tested for elcited production of complex sentences on the same topic. The tests results are used to argue that first language (L1) topic-prominence serves to produce topic-comment structures in the early stages of second language acquisition (SLA).
Source Publication
Institute of Language in Education Journal
Volume Number
2
First Page
52
Last Page
61
Recommended Citation
Sung, W. (1991). Typological transfer: a factor in the learner language of Hong Kong students?. Institute of Language in Education Journal, 2, 52-61. Retrieved from https://repository.vtc.edu.hk/ive-la-sp/6