Here's how interference manifests:
* Phonological interference: This involves the pronunciation of sounds in the second language being affected by the speaker's first language. For example, a Spanish speaker learning English might pronounce the "th" sound as "d" because Spanish doesn't have that sound.
* Lexical interference: This occurs when words or phrases from the first language are used in the second language. This can be due to a lack of vocabulary in the second language, or simply habit. For example, a French speaker might use the phrase "c'est ça" (that's it) in English.
* Grammatical interference: This involves the grammatical rules of the first language being applied to the second language, resulting in errors. For example, a German speaker might say "I have to go to the shop" instead of "I need to go to the shop" because German grammar often uses "have" where English uses "need".
* Semantic interference: This refers to the meaning of words being influenced by the first language. For example, a Japanese speaker learning English might misunderstand the word "gift" because in Japanese, "gift" often refers to money.
Types of interference:
* Positive interference: This occurs when the first language helps the learner acquire the second language. For example, if both languages have similar grammatical structures, this can make learning easier.
* Negative interference: This occurs when the first language makes it more difficult to learn the second language. This is often the case when the two languages have very different grammatical structures or pronunciations.
Factors affecting interference:
* Age of acquisition: Younger learners are often less prone to interference than older learners.
* Level of proficiency: Learners with a higher level of proficiency in their first language are more likely to experience interference.
* Exposure to the second language: Frequent and consistent exposure to the second language can reduce the likelihood of interference.
Understanding interference is crucial for language teachers and learners as it helps identify potential areas of difficulty and develop strategies to overcome them. It's important to remember that interference is a natural part of language learning and doesn't necessarily mean that a learner is "bad" at the second language.