Books by Terence Odlin

This book brings together many insights about the influences of one language upon another in language learning. Its accessible discussions explore key concerns such as predictions of difficulty, the role of translation processes, the relation between comprehension and production, and implications for classroom practice.

The author shows how similarities and differences between languages can influence grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation acquisition. Terence Odlin reconsiders a question that many language teachers and educational researchers have addressed: How much influence can a learner's native language have in making the acquisition of a new language easy or difficult? Odlin analyzes and interprets research showing many ways in which similarities and differences between languages can influence the acquisition of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. In addition, he provides a detailed look at work on other areas important for the study of transfer, including discourse, individual variation, and sociolinguistic factors. Language teachers, applied linguists, and educational researchers will find this volume extremely valuable to their work.