The Effect of Learning a Second language on Native language word choice in Informal Conversation

Abstract

This study explores how the learning of L2 consequences affects word choice in L1 in informal conversations between bilinguals. Bilingualism is an increasingly common success story of urbanization and migration, though the cognitive and sociolinguistic mechanisms that govern how bilinguals switch between languages in everyday situations have remained largely unconsidered until now. The study examines how L2 learning brings about changes in L1 speech by embedding L2 features such as lexical borrowing, syntactic transfer, and code-switching into the L1 discourse. Through these phenomena, the study has demonstrated the cognitive processes in language switching, including proficiency in the second language and ease of switching between languages. These include sociocultural factors such as social context and cultural identity. Data collection was performed through naturalistic observations and discourse analysis in bilingual conversations. The biodata shows that high-proficiency users of L2 use more L2 elements in their L1, especially in informal settings where there is more fluid language switching. These findings add to the complex lot of bilingual language behaviour, which informs concepts and practices in language education and research into bilingualism and sociolinguistic theory. Such a study emphasizes cross-linguistic influence as a strength in bilingual communication.