Der Einfluss des Englischen auf den Deutscherwerb bei italophonen Schullernenden und Universitätsstudierenden

Numerous studies highlight the role of English as an important bridge language, i.e. a language that facilitates the access to third language acquisition. However, the influence of English can also lead to negative transfer while learning a second or third foreign language. Focusing on this assumption, this paper presents the results of an empirical study on Italian- speaking learners of English and German as a foreign language, in order to observe (i) how English – as first or second foreign language – actually influences the acquisition of German, (ii) whether English-based transfer is more or less frequent than L1 transfer and (iii) which factors determine transfer in German production: typological proximity, longer duration of studies, foreign language status.