THE EFFECT OF PRAGMATIC TRANSFER AND LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY ON MOROCCAN EFL LEARNERS’ PRAGMATIC COMPETENCE

Authors

  • Hicham Latif Ibn Zohr University, FLHS, Department of English Studies, Agadir, Morrocco

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejals.v7i2.565

Keywords:

pragmatic transfer, L2 proficiency, pragmatic competence, EFL request strategies, Moroccan EFL learners

Abstract

In the present study, we investigate the potential effects of first language negative pragmatic transfer and target language proficiency on Moroccan EFL learners’ pragmatic competence as reflected in their request productions. The data were collected by means of a written discourse completion task from four samples of Moroccan Arabic native speakers, American English native speakers, and two proficiency groups of Moroccan EFL learners. The results revealed some pragmatic transfer of direct requesting strategies, especially the imperatives and want statements. Proficiency also had a positive impact on learners’ use of request perspective and lexical downgraders. However, the lower-level group was not the most direct as expected, indicating a negative correlation between proficiency and pragmatic competence. The study concludes with several research and pedagogical implications.

Author Biography

  • Hicham Latif, Ibn Zohr University, FLHS, Department of English Studies, Agadir, Morrocco

    Hicham Latif is an associate professor of L2 pragmatics and applied linguistics at the Department of English Studies, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Ibn Zohr University in Morocco. He holds a doctorate degree in L2 pragmatics and a master’s degree in applied linguistics and TEFL. His research interests cover pragmatics, L2 pragmatics, second language acquisition, language teaching, and L2 reading.

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Published

2024-12-01

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Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024)

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