PRAGMATIC TRANSFER IN ARABIC LEARNERS OF ENGLISH

Abstract

This study investigates socio-pragmatic transfer in Arabic learners of English. Following Olshtain (1983), the researcher attempted to assess the extent to which learners of English might transfer into L2 some of their first language (LI) sociopragmatic rules concerning apologizing. The closed role play instrument used by Olshtain (1983) to study the speech act of apology was employed. Findings suggest that LI socio-pragmatic norms were sometimes transferred to L2. There was also found some accommodation to L2 norms. The study also indicates that the extent of pragmatic transfer for certain apology strategies may be related to the learners' perception of the universality or the language-specificity of the speech act of apology. Furthermore, the study contributes to the understanding of the possible generalizability of pragmatic transfer phenomena across different native and target languages.