This study is anchored on two premises: First, that due to cross-linguistic
interaction resulting from the interconnectedness of the different language
systems in the mind of the multilingual foreign language learner, cross-linguistic
influence is inevitable, and, second, that if unmanaged, this interaction might
lead to erroneous deviations in the language(s) of the learner. There are studies
evidencing cross-linguistic influence of English and Kiswahili on German
amongst the Kenyan learners of this language. The question of the learners’
awareness of this phenomenon, however, remains unanswered. In the
framework of multilingual language learning awareness, and by use of an
Untimed Grammaticality Judgement test consisting of grammatical errors in
German arising from cross-linguistic influence of English and Kiswahili, this
study constructs explicit grammatical knowledge as an aspect of metalinguistic
knowledge. It further assesses the learners’ ability to apply this knowledge in the
negotiation of the presented errors as evidence of awareness of cross-linguistic
influence, with the ultimate aim of establishing what constitutes the learners’
awareness of multilinguality and cross-linguistic influence of the dominant
English and Kiswahili on German as a foreign language.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:38450 |
| Date | 25 February 2020 |
| Creators | Muchira, Rachel |
| Contributors | Universität Leipzig |
| Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion, doc-type:doctoralThesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, doc-type:Text |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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