Abstract:

Writing complexity and L1 transfer have been the focus of L2 writing research, while the relevance between them is seldom explored. Based on the errors that Chinese English learners often make in L2 writing, this paper discusses the relationship between L1 transfer and the complexity of L2 writing output by sorting out the types of errors caused by negative transfer of L1. In view of the two major types of interference of L1 transfer, this paper conducts a detailed analysis about the L2 writing production of three different types of writing assignment, participants of which are 60 university students. The results indicate the degree of positive and negative transfer of L1 are consistent in different writing styles, and the incidence of preclusive interference is significantly higher than intrusive interference in negative transfer. In addition, there is a certain negative correlation between lexical, syntactic complexity of L2 writing and the degree of positive transfer of L1, that is, the higher the degree of positive L1 transfer, the lower the lexical and syntactic complexity.

Key words: L2 writing, complexity, L1 transfer, error analysis theory