Interference in Acquisition of Phonology by Swahili-Speaking EFL Learners

Abstract

This paper aimed at examining L1 interference in the acquisition of English phonology by L1 Swahili learners of English. The paper examined L1’s contribution in the segmental and prosodic errors that Swahili learners of English as a foreign language make and the potential moderating effects of age on L1 phonological interference. The study involved 47 Advanced Level (A-Level) students from three secondary schools in Tanzania who were given different elicitation stimuli to examine possible L1 interference in their English. It also examined interference disparities between participants who started learning English before the Critical Period (BCP) and those who began to learn English after the Critical Period (ACP). The findings show there are numerous L1-induced prosodic and segmental errors for all the participants. Results also show that the Critical Period Hypothesis effect was not evident among participants who started learning English before the Critical Period (BCP).

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-33-04

Publication date: November 30^th 2023