L1 transfer in the acquisition of English articles. Evidence from L1 Bulgarian and L1 Norwegian learners

Abstract

This study investigates the L1 transfer in the acquisition of articles in L2 English by L1 speakers of Bulgarian and Norwegian. Bulgarian differs from English in that it has no overt indefinite article, the definite article is postposed, and it expresses genericity by means of the definite article. Norwegian is similar to English in that it has overt indefinite article. The definite article in Norwegian is postposed and genericity is expressed by both definite, indefinite, singular and plural, and in that Norwegian is similar to both Bulgarian and English. The study consists of a Grammaticality judgement test (GJT) administered to Bulgarian students in grade 6/7 aged 12-13 (N=234), and Norwegian students in grade 6/7 aged 11-12 (N=134). A Proficiency placement test was administered before the GJT in order to match the groups for proficiency level. Six sub-conditions were differentiated, two of which targeted the use of the indefinite article. For both of them, the results showed a large difference in the number of correct answers between L1 Norwegian students and L1 Bulgarian students. The difference is largest in the condition where Norwegian requires an obligatory indefinite article. In the condition where Norwegian requires a bare noun, the difference between the two language groups is smaller. In all other sub-conditions, there is no difference between the two language groups. The results confirm that L1 influences the acquisition of articles in L2 English.