Curiosity of language acquisition
One of the most paramount and interesting nature of human development is the curiosity of language acquisition. This essay summarizes the most probable challenges that one faces in the second language(L2) acquisition process. First, it is noted that the first language (L1) has a significant effect on the second language writing which in most cases interferes with the sentence structure and constructions (Ringbom, 1987). Furthermore, this review also highlights the effect of the native language on the second language in terms of age (Littlewood, 1984). Mostly, age greatly posits challenge in the acquisition of the second language. Finally, this essay distinguishes notable similarities and some of the differences between the native language and the second language acquisition. It is believed that the language which is acquired as early as two to three years is the first language.
The linguistic researches have shown that learners supplement the existing gaps in their second language syntactical sentence structure, using syntactical knowledge. The second language learners commit these errors because of the similarities between their first language and the target language. Occasionally, first language transfer in the second language writing occurs where the learners use first language strategies in the second language sentence structure and the general writing, apparently because of some existing similarities. When a second language learns has a little knowledge of the target language he or she entirely relies on his or her first language knowledge to meaningfully articulate their ideas. Research shows that second language learner makes use of the first language knowledge as a communicative tool for demystifying the complexities and the composition of the second language writing task.
According to various researches, it is crystal clear that there are some similarities between the native language and the second language, for instance, subject-verb agreement research shows that only the position of a subject and its complement slightly varies between the two languages. Furthermore, it was also noted that first language with more similarities with the second language in terms of phonological and syntactical structure makes it easy for the second language learner to master the target language (Tokowicz, 2014). Furthermore, the native language has an interfering effect on the way the second language is pronounced, while most of these interferences are not physical. Learners, especially at the beginning levels, pronounce the second language assuming that the foreign language model operates the way native language does. Truly what we may notice in this case may not satisfy our curiosity on the underlying factors that elicit this effect (Klein et al., 1986). Furthermore, the facilitating factors of the native language have a pivotal role in the process of trying to demystify and acquire a second language. For instance, when a native Arab speaker says “I am in school since May,” a probable and noticeable effect emanates out of native language. The effect is on the adverb and appropriate tenses. This effect might also have aroused due to the arrangement of subject-verb agreement in Arabic native language.
Researchers found that there is a great relationship between the age and the second language acquisition. Age is a paramount aspect I building and mastery of the second language. In addition, it is claimed that the appropriate way to acquire and learn a foreign language is from birth and should be continuous not at later age. It is believed that the brain is accommodative and elastic during childhood (Turnbull & Dailey-O’Cain, 2009). Therefore, reaching the puberty stage brain attains elastic limit in terms of accommodating the learning of a second language. Second language acquisition before puberty stage, therefore, increases chances of mastering native language pronunciation and vocabularies.
In conclusion, second language acquisition relies upon the above-stated factors; the transfer of the first language syntactical and phonological knowledge of L1 to L2, the similarities between L1 and L2 and the age. All these factors therefore not only play an important role in L2 acquisition process but also laying the foundation which can negatively or positively impact on foreign language acquisition. It suffices to say nature and curiosity of an individual in acquiring a native language determine the rate of its acquisition.