engleski

Investigating L1 influence on the acquisition of L2 discourse markers

Although discourse markers have been recognised as language devices which play an important role in organizing and structuring information in both spoken and written language production, and although the skilful use of these devices is considered to be an indispensable component of both discourse and pragmatic competence, discourse markers have been rather neglected in SLA research (Müller, 2004). The findings of a relatively small number of studies conducted to date, mostly based on data obtained from small-size spoken English as a foreign language (EFL) samples, report on EFL learners´ poor command of discourse markers (Romero Trillo, 2002 ; Yang, 2005). Some authors point to L1 influence as one of the factors affecting the use of L2 discourse markers (Müller, 2005 ; Jalilifar, 2008). EFL learners seem to be inclined to most frequently use those English discourse markers the equivalents of which are also most frequently used in L1. Furthermore, earlier research shows the use of L2 discourse markers to be the result of translating them from L1 to L2 (Demirci and Kleiner, 1997). In an attempt to shed additional light on the role of L1 influence on the acquisition of L2 discourse markers, particularly with respect to Croatian as L1, which has barely been studied in this area of SLA research, the present paper focuses on a study aimed at investigating the relationship between the Croatian primary and secondary school students´ use of discourse markers in L1 and in L2 (English) written production. This study, carried out on a sample of 200 participants, is based mostly on Fraser´s taxonomy of discourse markers (1999) and employs both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The results seem to support the earlier findings pointing to L1 transfer effects in the range and frequency of discourse markers used as well as in the functions of discourse markers deployed in the students´ writing at the two proficiency levels.

discourse markers; L1 influence; writing; Croatian EFL learners

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