Contrastive analysis hypothesis: first-language interference as the principal barrier to second language acquisition¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 1 claim (1 mixed) · 1 study (1 theoretical), q1 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

Developed by Robert Lado in the 1950s, the contrastive analysis hypothesis "claimed that the principal barrier to second language acquisition is the interference of the first language system with the second language system". Rooted in behaviorism and structuralism, it held that language learning is changing old habits and building new habits, so errors should not be allowed to occur and teaching emphasized mechanical pattern drills. The article presents it as the precursor whose weaknesses led to interlanguage and error analysis.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• A structural comparison of the native and target languages to predict learning problems

Constraints¶

• The article states it overemphasized interference from the outer environment and totally neglected the language learners themselves

Target Learners¶

• Second/foreign language learners

Target Learning Objectives¶

• Predicting and describing second language learning difficulties

Claims¶

• Learner errors arise from interlingual transfer, intralingual overgeneralization, cultural interference, and communicative strategies [~W]

Related Theories¶

• Interlanguage: learners form self-contained linguistic systems intermediate between native and target language

Examples¶

• Address Mother Tongue Interference

Key Sources¶

• XIE Fang, JIANG Xue-mei. (2007). Error analysis and the EFL classroom teaching. US-China Education Review. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Error+analysis+and+the+EFL+classroom+teaching