Cross-Linguistic Influence

Cross-linguistic influence occurs when knowledge of one language affects the way a person uses or learns another language. This can lead to similarities or errors, such as using words, grammar rules, or pronunciation from the first language while speaking the second. It happens because our brain draws on existing language patterns when we communicate in a new language, especially for bilinguals or those learning multiple languages. While it can sometimes cause mistakes, it also reflects the interconnected nature of our language knowledge and can aid language learning over time.