INTRODUCTION

Interlanguage theory is a concept in second

language acquisition (SLA) that explains how learners
develop and modify their linguistic systems as they
progress toward acquiring a new language. Proposed by
Larry Selinker in 1972, the theory suggests that during the
process of learning a second language, learners create a
unique and dynamic linguistic system that lies between
their native language and the target language. This
intermediate linguistic system is termed "interlanguage."

Key Principles of Interlanguage Theory:

1. Learner Variability: Interlanguage theory recognizes

that every learner's journey in acquiring a second language is unique. Learners will make
errors, but these errors can reflect systematic patterns that are not mere deviations from the
target language.

For instance, in the early stages of learning English, many Spanish speakers might
consistently drop the subject pronoun (e.g., saying "I am tired" as "Am tired"), reflecting the
subject-verb order of their native language.

2. Dynamic Nature: Interlanguage is not static; it evolves and changes over time as learners
continue to interact with the language and gain exposure. It's a transitional phase that
learners pass through on their way to achieving proficiency.

An example of this dynamic nature is when a Mandarin Chinese learner of English starts out
saying, "I have 25 years old," then transitions to "I am 25 years old," and eventually reaches
the correct form, "I am 25 years old" as they acquire a better understanding of English
syntax.
3. Fossilization: Fossilization is a phenomenon where some aspects of a learner's
interlanguage system become resistant to change, even after extensive exposure to the
target language. These features may persist despite the learner's overall improvement.

An example is a French learner of German consistently pronouncing the German "ch" sound
as in "Bach" like the French "sh" sound in "chic." Despite exposure and practice, this error
may become a permanent part of their speech.

4. Language Transfer: Transfer refers to the influence of a learner's native language on their
interlanguage.

A Japanese speaker learning English might say "I want to eating" due to the influence of the
Japanese structure "tabe たべたい" (食べたい), where the verb "eat" is used as a noun with
the suffix "ing" added.

5. Overgeneralization: Learners often apply rules from their native language to the target
language, leading to overgeneralization errors.

For instance, an English learner might say "goed" instead of "went," applying the regular
past tense rule from English to irregular verbs.
6. Calquing: Calquing involves translating expressions literally from the native language to the
target language.

An example of calquing would be a German speaker learning English saying, "I'm on the
jump," instead of the correct idiomatic expression, "I'm on the go," which they might have
directly translated from the German phrase "Ich bin unterwegs."

7. Code-Switching: While not exclusively interlanguage, code-switching can be a manifestation

of the learner's struggle between the native language and the target language. A bilingual
speaker might switch to their native language when they encounter difficulties in expressing a
certain concept in the target language.

For example, a bilingual speaker might say, "I need to comprar algunas cosas" (comprar =
buy in Spanish), blending English and Spanish due to the struggle to find the right words in
the target language.

In summary, interlanguage theory provides valuable insights into the complex process of
second language acquisition. It emphasizes that errors and deviations in learners' language use
are not just random mistakes but rather a reflection of the transitional state they go through as
they develop their linguistic abilities in the new language.

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ACTIVITY 1 – Week 1

Exploring Interlanguage Theory through Error Analysis and Correction

Objective:
To analyze language learners' errors, identify patterns, and devise strategies for error
correction.

Materials Needed:
Sample texts or writing samples from language learners (can be obtained from language
classes or online language learning platforms).