Interlanguage 中介語 (中介语)

zhōngjièyǔ · from English

What is interlanguage?

Interlanguage is a learner's own evolving system of a second language, with rules that are neither the native nor the target language.

Linguist Larry Selinker introduced the term in 1972. Interlanguage errors are systematic, not random, and they show what the learner currently believes about the language. Over time interlanguage moves closer to the target, unless it fossilises.

Examples

Using 了 after every past event; saying 我是累 wǒ shì lèi for I am tired (should be 我很累); Japanese learners saying 私が学生です in a neutral introduction

Kungfucius says: You are not speaking bad Chinese. You are speaking fluent you-ese, version 0.7.