Effects of L1 Transfer on L2: A Contrastive Analysis of Urdu and English Coordinating Conjunctions /and/ and /aur/

Abstract

This study compares and contrasts the usage of /and/ and /aur/ within the framework of the Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis (CAH). Data on Urdu conjunctions appearing in various structures were obtained from an unpublished research paper on Conversation Analysis, while data on English conjunctions were obtained from several past studies. Hundred Graduating students (twenty five from each institution) from five different Higher Education Institutions of Kotli AJ&K (Pakistan) were provided with audio conversations in Urdu and asked to translate them into English (the target language). The written translations of the data were analyzed inorder to check the influence of L1 (Urdu) on the use of coordinating conjunctions of L2 (English). The findings divulge that the conjunction /aur/ poses hitches for Urdu speakers when translating L1 structures into L2, specifically in how the conjunction /aur/ is used in normal conversation. The study employs three possibilities of emergence in the comparative study of English and Urdu: no difference between the L1 coordinating conjunction /aur/ and its L2 counterpart "and," no similarity between the two, and a structure present in L1 but absent in L2. This study may assist English teachers and learners who have to deal with transfer of Urdu L1 structures to L2 (English).