Editing Second-language acquisition (section)

== Language transfer ==
{{Main|Language transfer|Crosslinguistic influence}}

One important difference between first-language acquisition and second-language acquisition is that the process of second-language acquisition is influenced by languages that the learner already knows. This influence is known as ''language transfer''.<ref group="note">The term ''language transfer'' is not without controversy, however. Sharwood Smith and Kellerman preferred the term ''[[crosslinguistic influence]]'' to ''language transfer''. They argued that ''cross-linguistic influence'' was neutral regarding different theories of language acquisition, whereas ''language transfer'' was not. {{harvnb|Sharwood Smith|Kellerman|1986}}, cited in {{harvnb|Ellis|2008|p=350}}.</ref> Language transfer is a complex phenomenon resulting from the interaction between learners’ prior linguistic knowledge, the target language input they encounter, and their cognitive processes.{{sfn|Lightbown|Spada|2006|pp=93–96}} Language transfer is not always from the learner’s native language; it can also be from a second language or a third.{{sfn|Lightbown|Spada|2006|pp=93–96}} Neither is it limited to any particular domain of language; language transfer can occur in grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, discourse, and reading.{{sfn|Ellis|2008|p=350}}

For more detailed information, please refer to the main articles on and Language transfer and [[Crosslinguistic influence|Crosslilnguistic influence]].