The Impact of Arabic Transfer on English Language Learners in the Context of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This research paper attempts to explore the mother tongue interference in English language learning in the context of Saudi Arabia. Relatively, less research is available, and scanty attention has been paid to the effects of Arabic transfer on English language learners in the Saudi context. The effect is also studied as a crosslinguistic influence (CLI) or interference. First language transfer (crosslinguistic influence) can be negative or positive in second language learning L2. Learning a new language is a complex phenomenon that requires motivation, patience, time consumption, practice and above all academic collaboration to reach a targeted goal, especially for English language learners.  English language learning in Saudi Arabia is not a new phenomenon, it dates back to 1930 following the discovery of oil. Since then, the arguments in favour of English language learning (ELL)and English language teaching (ELT) have been growing more and more in post-secondary education in Saudi Arabia with the inclusion of English-based curricula being taught more across all the academic institutions in a highly strict and conservative society. The conceptual paper illuminates some theories such as the behaviourist perspective, innatist view, critical period hypothesis within the Saudi transfer context, and their relevant perspectives on L1 interference.  Moreover, the author also evaluates critically seven parts of speech, namely noun, pronoun, preposition, verb, adverb, adjectives, and conjunction to critique how negative or positive cross-linguistic influence from L1 to L2 can have effects on the development of mature/adult language learners if it remains uncorrected and untreated. Finally, some recommendations have been surmised from existing available literature on how to avoid transfer while learning the English language, especially in Saudi Arabia.

Keywords: L1 Transfer, First language, Interference, First language, Contrastive analysis, components of English language/parts of speech.