The Impact of Native Language Negative Transfer on English Writing and Strategies to Cop with It
Native language negative transfer refers to the phenomenon that learners transfer the errors and patterns from their first language to their second language. It is a common challenge for English learners, especially those whose first language is significantly different from English, such as Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic. In this article, we will explore the impact of native language negative transfer on English writing and provide some effective strategies to cope with it.
The Impact of Native Language Negative Transfer on English Writing
One of the obvious impacts of native language negative transfer on English writing is the grammar errors. For example, Chinese learners may overuse articles or misuse prepositions due to the absence of these grammatical features in Chinese. Additionally, learners may also directly translate idioms or expressions from their first language, which may sound awkward or even incomprehensible to native English speakers. Another impact of native language negative transfer on English writing is the organization and coherence of the writing. Some learners may follow the writing pattern of their first language, which may not fit the writing style of English. As a result, the writing may lack logical flow and the message may not be conveyed effectively.
Strategies to Cope with Native Language Negative Transfer in English Writing
There are several effective strategies that English learners could adopt to cope with native language negative transfer in English writing. First, learners should try to identify the grammar errors and understand the differences between English and their first language. For instance, Chinese learners could pay attention to the use of articles and prepositions in English and practice using them in context. Second, learners could read more English materials and expose themselves to various writing styles and structures. This could help them better understand the organization and coherence of English writing. Third, learners could revise their writing with the help of a teacher or a native speaker and get feedback on the errors and weaknesses in their writing. This could help them learn from the mistakes and avoid them in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, native language negative transfer could significantly affect English writing, but with effective strategies, learners could cope with it and improve their writing skills. By identifying the errors, reading more and getting feedback, learners could overcome the challenges and master the techniques of English writing. With persistence and effort, learners could achieve their goals and succeed in English writing.