Includes indexes.

Earlier thinking on transfer -- Some fundamental problems in the study of transfer -- Discourse -- Semantics -- Syntax -- Phonetics, phonology, and writing systems -- Nonstructural factors in transfer -- Looking back and looking ahead -- Implications for teaching.

"The author shows how similarities and differences between languages can influence grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation acquisition.Terence Odlin reconsiders a question that many language teachers and educational researchers have addressed: How much influence can a learner's native language have in making the acquisition of a new language easy or difficult? Odlin analyzes and interprets research showing many ways in which similarities and differences between languages can influence the acquisition of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. In addition, he provides a detailed look at work on other areas important for the study of transfer, including discourse, individual variation, and sociolinguistic factors. Language teachers, applied linguists, and educational researchers will find this volume extremely valuable to their work." (Publisher's Description)

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. Introduction

2. Earlier thinking on transfer
2.1. Languages (and dialects) in contact
2.2. Transfer as a controversy in language teaching

3. Some fundamental problems in the study of transfer
3.1. Problems of definition
3.2. Problems of comparison
3.3. Problems of prediction
3.4. Problems of generalization

4. Discourse
4.1. Politeness
4.2. Coherence
4.3. Discourse transfer and other factors
4.4. Summary and conclusion

5. Semantics
5.1. Prepositional semantics
5.2. Lexical semantics
5.3. Summary and conclusion

6. Syntax
6.1. Word order
6.2. Relative clauses
6.3. Negation
6.4. Summary and conclusion

7. Phonetics, phonology, and writing systems
7.1. General versus specific predictions
7.2. Phonetic and phonological transfer
7.3. Pronunciation, language universals, and typologies
7.4. Writing systems
7.5. Summary and conclusion

8. Nonstructural factors in transfer
8.1. Individual variation
8.2. Transfer and age of acquisition
8.3. Transfer, linguistic awareness, and social context

9. Looking back and looking ahead
9.1. Some caveats
9.2. Some conclusions
9.3. Some areas for further research

10. Implications for teaching