Cross-linguistic influence of English (L2) on Japanese (L3) in Hong Kong

Abstract

The present study was an attempt to explore the current situation and future possibilities of Japanese education in Hong Kong. It aimed to investigate whether L3 cross-linguistic influences can potentially reveal the role of language transfer and how it influences local Hong Kong Cantonese (L1) learners in Secondary School with exposure to English (L2) before or at around age 6 (Primary 1) during their Japanese (L3) acquisition. In general, cross-linguistic influence occurs at all levels in Linguistics (phonological, lexical, morphological, syntactical and pragmatical levels). It takes place when a language learner produces an incorrect form unconsciously because he or she has not learnt the correct form yet or the linguistic knowledge has not been completely automatized. Through consciousness-raising tasks (translation task and form-focused correction tasks), both positive and negative transfers of the L1 (native) and the L2 (prior linguistic knowledge) on the L3 were found. Through the investigation, it suggested that psychotypology plays the main role in TLA, not only in the initial stage of acquisition. On the other hand, transfers due to L2 status factors were observed in TLA as well but had comparatively less influence than psychotypology. The reasons behind were also the strong influence from native language, frequent use of L1, and lexical and syntactical similarities between Cantonese and Japanese. It is suggested that raising learners’ awareness of linguistic similarities can help their L3 acquisition.