Cognitive factors in learning: transfer, interference and overgeneralization

Cognitive factors in learning: transfer, interference and overgeneralization

COGNITIVE FACTORS IN LEARNING: TRANSFER, INTERFERENCE AND OVERGENERALIZATION

Cognition is the process of knowing, understanding and learning something. Simply, it is closely related to mind and perception. Therefore, cognitive factors in learning languages are divided into the following subtopics: transfer, interference and overgeneralization.

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  Cognition is the process of knowing, understanding and learning something. Simply, it is closely related to mind and perception. Therefore, cognitive factors in learning languages are divided into the following subtopics: transfer, interference and overgeneralization.
  

transfer

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  Transfer is the transmission of previous performance or knowledge to subsequent learning. It can be positive and negative.
  

Positive transfer is based on identical points between source and target language which benefits easier acquisition of second language owing to its similar characteristics with mother tongue.

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  Positive transfer is based on identical points between source and target language which benefits easier acquisition of second language owing to its similar characteristics with mother tongue.
  
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  For example, word order in both English and French is on the basis of Subject + Verb+ Object which encourages language learners to easily acquire this structure and apply them in their language performance:
  

Table #1

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  Table #1
  
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  English French
  
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  I am a student Je suis un ẻtudiant
  
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  In the contrary, in Eastern languages as well as in Uzbek, we are supposed to use object between subject and verb that is totally opposite structure from above-mentioned languages.