language transfer

in second-language acquisition, the tendency to transfer the phonology, syntax, and semantics of the native language into the learning of the second language. Negative transfer (or interference) occurs when differences between the two languages’ structures lead to systematic errors in the learning of the second language or to fossilization. Positive transfer occurs when areas of similarity between the two languages facilitate learning. See contrastive analysis; interlanguage.

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Psychology term of the day

December 22nd 2024

confidence limit

either of the values at the upper and lower ends of a confidence interval, which provide an estimated range for the value of a population parameter. Also called confidence bound.