Correct Response: B. The scenario describes a classic example of transfer from the first language that produces an error in the new language. Language transfer refers to the influence of linguistic features of one language (e.g., the syntactic feature described in this item) on another language. People commonly experience language transfer in the context of new language learning. Positive transfer of a linguistic feature makes learning easier, while negative transfer or interference occurs when the use of a feature from the first language produces an error in the new language. Interlanguage fossilization (A) refers to a linguistic error that has become a permanent feature of a language learner's production in the new language. It may or may not be an error related to language transfer. Translation equivalence (C) refers to a word or phrase in one language that corresponds to or is equivalent with a word or phrase in another language. Overgeneralization of a language form (D) takes place when a person extends a language rule that has been learned to a word to which it does not apply (e.g., saying childs instead of children, runned instead of ran).
