LEMMATIC INFLUENCE ON VOCABULARY ACQUISITION AMONG L3 ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN TANZANIA

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of a study that investigated cross-linguistic influence (CLI) on the acquisition of English vocabulary by Tanzanian third language (L3) learners. Specifically, the study aimed to determine how lemmatic CLI from L1 and L2 influences L3 in a multilingual rural context where L1 is a dominant ethnic community language (L1=Haya, L2=Swahili, L3=English) and determine the source language responsible. In all, 40 participants performed three language tasks i.e. word association(WAT), letter writing task (LWT) and wordless picture narration (WPN). The study found evidence of lemmatic transfer from background languages in various forms. More significantly, , the L2 played instrumental and facilitative roles, both strategically and spontaneously, in influencing L3 vocabulary acquisition relative to the L1. Also, the study found the status of L2 is the predominant source language for lemmatic influence on L3 English and was modulated by proficiency and exposure.The study confirms that L3 learners reduce CLI as they increase L3 proficiency and that L2 acts as both a filter and source language as it features in L3.