Interlanguage fossilization facts for kids

Interlanguage fossilization is a cool idea in language learning. It happens when someone learning a second language keeps using rules or habits from their native language. They might use these rules even when they don't fit the new language. This can make their new language sound a bit different from both their native language and the language they are trying to learn.

A smart person named Selinker first talked about this idea of "interlanguage fossilization" in 1972.

Why Does It Happen?

There are a couple of main reasons why interlanguage fossilization can happen:

How Adults Learn Languages

When adults learn a new language, they often think a lot about rules and grammar. Unlike young kids who just pick up a language naturally, adults tend to compare the new language to their native one. This can sometimes make learning harder.

Adults are also very influenced by their native language. Sometimes, the way their first language works can stop them from getting better at the new language. Because of this, many adults learning a second language might experience interlanguage fossilization.

Feeling Comfortable in a New Culture

Another reason for fossilization can be how people feel about a new culture. Imagine someone moves to a new country and needs to learn a new language. At first, they might feel a bit nervous because everything is so different. So, they study hard to learn the language.

But after a while, they might start to feel more comfortable. They might think they have adapted well to the new culture and are confident in their language skills. When they stop feeling nervous, they might also stop trying to improve their language. This is when interlanguage fossilization can happen, because they stop pushing themselves to get better.