Multilingual Matters Crosslinguistic Influence and Distinctive Patterns of Language Learning: Findings and Insights from a Learner Corpus (Second Language Acquisition): 118

This book details patterns of language use that can be found in the writing of adult immigrant learners of Norwegian as a second language (L2). Each study draws its data from a single corpus of texts written for a proficiency test of L2 Norwegian by learners representing 10 different first language (L1) backgrounds. The participants of the study are immigrants to Norway and the book deals with the varying levels and types of language difficulties faced by such learners from differing backgrounds. The studies examine the learners use of Norwegian in relation to the morphological, syntactic, lexical, semantic and pragmatic patterns they produce in their essays. Nearly all the studies in the book rely on analytical methods specifically designed to isolate the effects of the learners L1s on their use of L2 Norwegian, and every chapter highlights patterns that distinguish different L1 groups from one another. Review This excellent collection shows how crosslinguistic influence research can be theoretically interesting and methodologically challenging. The level of mastery is superb, and the result is a strong volume which contains a number of perceptive insights for the reader to reflect upon. A must-read for anyone interested in crosslinguistic influence research, Norwegian and quantitative research methods. --Gessica De Angelis, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland This volume is essential reading for anyone interested in the complex problem of language transfer. Especially praiseworthy is the coverage of problems encountered by speakers of highly diverse languages such as Polish, Somali, and Vietnamese in their efforts to acquire Norwegian. The collection also seems exemplary in showing how methods in corpus linguistics can be used to study crosslinguistic influence. --Terence Odlin, Ohio State University, USA This edited volume brings together findings from the ASKeladden A corpus-based approach to L1 transfer in Norwegian learner language project. It will be of great value to researchers and practitioners interested in how learner corpus data can contribute to the theory and practice of second language acquisition. It is also unique in being grounded in Jarvis s (2000) methodological framework for the study of transfer. --Magali Paquot, FNRS - Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium About the Author Anne Golden is Professor of Norwegian as a Second Language at the University of Oslo, Norway. Her main research is on literacy in a second language, with a focus on vocabulary and in particular metaphors, studying learners comprehension, development and practice in and out of school. Scott Jarvis is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Utah, USA. His areas of research include crosslinguistic influence and lexical diversity. He is the co-editor (with Scott Crossley) of Approaching Language Transfer through Text Classification (2012). Kari Tenfjord is Professor of Norwegian as a second language at the University of Bergen, Norway. Her research focuses on the development and use of Norwegian as a second language with an emphasis on the acquisition of tense. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Crosslinguistic Influence and Distinctive Patterns of Language Learning Findings and Insights from a Learner Corpus By Anne Golden, Scott Jarvis, Kari Tenfjord Multilingual Matters Copyright © 2017 Anne Golden, Scott Jarvis, Kari Tenfjord All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-78309-876-7 Contents Contributors, vii, Preface, xi, 1 Introduction Kari Tenfjord, Scott Jarvis and Anne Golden, 1, 2 Transfer: An Overview with an Expanded Scope Scott Jarvis, 12, 3 The 'Perfect Candidate' for Transfer: A Discussion of L1 Influence in L2 Acquisition of Tense-Aspect Morphology Ann-Kristin Helland Gujord, 29, 4 On How Polish Learners of Norwegian Render Spatial Prepositions in L2: A Corpus-Based Study of i and på Oliwia Szymanska, 64, 5 Positive and Negative Transfer