Interlingual influences and communication strategies by learners of German as a third language

an analysis of an online communicative writing

Abstract

In this article, we ponder on the influences of previously learned languages on the process of learning German as a third language by Brazilian students. This influence can take place through intentional and self-controlled or unintentional linguistic transfers. When intentional, they are considered learning strategies and/or communication strategies, depending on the theoretical framework. Based on an empirical research conducted in 2017 and debates in the academic area around this subject (OXFORD 1990, 2011; BIMMEL e RAMPILLON 2000; SELINKER 1972, 2014; HUFEISEN 2010), this article intends to analyze the strategies used by Brazilian students of German as a third language in an online chat, and also talk about the uncontrolled interlingual influences. The results obtained point to contrasts (1) between the types of strategies used by learners at different levels of learning and (2) between the languages that exerted more influences on them: more proficient learners used strategies that mobilized more elements of the target language (for example, circumlocutions), and were not influenced exclusively by their native language (only by L1 and L2 concomitantly or only by L2), as opposed to less proficient learners.