Pronunciation:
* Accent: L1 sounds and intonation patterns carry over to English, creating a recognizable accent.
* Phoneme mapping: L1 learners often struggle with English sounds that don't exist in their language, leading to mispronunciation. For example, a Spanish speaker might struggle with the "th" sound.
* Stress and rhythm: The stress and rhythm of English words and sentences are different from many other languages, leading to difficulties in understanding and being understood.
Grammar:
* Word order: L1 grammar rules can interfere with English word order, leading to errors like subject-verb agreement or incorrect preposition use.
* Sentence structure: L1 sentence structure influences how learners construct English sentences, sometimes leading to complex or grammatically incorrect structures.
* Tense and aspect: L1 languages often have different tense and aspect systems than English, leading to confusion and errors in using past, present, and future tenses.
Vocabulary:
* Borrowed words: Learners might use words from their L1 that resemble English words but have slightly different meanings, leading to miscommunication.
* Translation errors: Learners might try to directly translate L1 idioms or expressions into English, leading to awkward or nonsensical phrases.
* Limited vocabulary: L1 learners might have a limited vocabulary in English, affecting their ability to express themselves fluently.
Other factors:
* Cultural influence: L1 cultural norms can influence communication style and the use of idioms and slang, leading to misunderstandings or misinterpretations.
* Learning environment: The environment in which learners acquire English, including exposure to different accents and dialects, can influence their pronunciation and grammar.
Examples:
* A Spanish speaker might pronounce "the" as "ze" because Spanish doesn't have the "th" sound.
* A Japanese speaker might say "I am go to the store" instead of "I am going to the store" because Japanese doesn't use the continuous tense in the same way.
* A French speaker might say "I am very content" instead of "I am very happy" because "content" is a more common word in French.
Positive and negative aspects:
* Positive: L1 influences can lead to unique and interesting variations in spoken English.
* Negative: L1 influence can sometimes hinder fluency and comprehension, leading to communication difficulties.
It's important to remember that every learner is different, and the influence of L1 varies depending on factors such as age of acquisition, language learning experience, and motivation. With practice and exposure to English, learners can overcome the challenges posed by L1 influence and achieve fluency in spoken English.