Cognitive factors in language acquisition :Transfer ,interference ,generalization?
There are several cognitive factors that benefit and slow down language learning process. Cognitive factors play an important role in language acquisition. Cognition is the process of knowing ,understanding and learning .There are three type of cognitive factors :transfer, interference and gereralization .Three terms are sometimes mistakenly considered to represent . They are correctly understood as several manifestations of one principle of learning .They are positive transfer and negative transfer . Positive transfer is about carrying over everything when
It is going to be right .If we make negative transfer ,we are going to find something called interference and generalization .Negative transfer merely occurs as a process of interference and generalization. The positive transfer can also occur when first language has similarity with the second language . It will give advantages to the learner. Interference has been common in second language teaching teaching to stress the role of interference. The interfering effects of the native language on the second language . Interference has been so strong that some have viewed second language learning .
Interference is surely the most immediately noticeable source . Person will use whatever previous experience to facilitate the second language learning process . Sometimes the native language is negatively transferred,and we say that interference has occurred. Another type of negative transfer is generalization. It is particular subset of generalization. One of the most significant characteristics of generalization is that it occurs only within one language. It is important in learning language. Generalization is meaningful learning . To generalize means to infer or derive a law,rule. Second language learner will over generalize within the language.
Age and age hypothesis in language acquisition?
Is there an optimum age for second language acquisition . It is known that age is a vital factor in language learning .That time we have a question " Which age is important factor in language?" There are lots of factors with age factors:biological factors,mother tongue, intelligence, surroundings, condition, wealth .
Firstly, we have to know advantages and disadvantages ,difference between early and late language learning. In early childhood, learning language is not related to conscious . I mean it can be natural.
Children can be bilingual without knowing and excessive attemps. Because we can know through scientific researches ,pronunciation and intonation can be acquired easier during childhood . I think accent free pronunciation is the most significant factor for speak like native person .There are other factors .It is related to character .It childhood they have no shyness . They are afraid of making mistakes and can communicate with people easily because of their flexibility.
Also late language learning has a few advantages . An important advantage are cognitive factors and experience. Through their knowledge of much years they can more easily acquire grammatical rules , vocabulary . Adults learn language for certain aim : education ,profession, social prestige, travel . So they can be punctual for themselves.
Despite of age, all people reach a language learning process . Personality and talent can influence learning significantly . However , it is better to encourage language learning at an early age. They can reach native level with less effort and time .
Error analysis and error correction
During learning foreign language we make different and many errors. If we analyze them we can correct our errors in language learning acquisition .Errors are classified according to the level of language: phonological, vocabulary, lexical, syntactic errors and so on. Error analyze studies the types and causes of language errors. Errors occur mostly in speaking and writing than listening and reading. Because in this fields of language we produce them ourselves. Error analyze can be used actively to design remedial exercises. Error analyze will reveal to teachers,tutors,writers the problem areas of language learning acquisition. Pupils can not analyze and correct error by themselves. If student do not know correct answer teachers help them with the correct answer. Teacher 's duty is to take note of the errors and give feedback. If teachers are not aware of the types of corrective feedback they used, as a result the feedback the provided is not focused. It is of great important for the teachers to know the techniques of error correction. Teachers should attempt to understand learners' level anxiety in second language.
