The role of typology and formal similarity in third language acquisition (German and Spanish)

The focus of this study is the role previously acquired languages in acquisition a third language (L3). It focused on cross-linguistic influences (CLI) German/Spanish lan- guage (TLA) by learners with Croatian first (L1) and English second (L2). Participants were third-year undergraduate students at Roch- ester Institute Technology’s subsidiary Croatia (RIT Croatia). All participants had exclusively as L1, L2, learning German Spanish L3 time study. present investigates relationship between typology formal similarity transfer/error production, since many studies have demonstrated that plays determining transfer (Cenoz, Hufeisen & Jess- ner 2001; Hammarberg Rothman 2010). There are various areas dis- Croatian, English, German, Spanish. A significant portion vocabulary comes from Romance Latinate sources. Due to these facts, we argue strongest L2 (English) influence will be found area lexicon. On other hand, Cro- atian, more similar morphology, due fact higher degree inflection than English. Accordingly, L1 (Croatian) morphology. results research confirmed our initial hypothesis type episodes observed may related specific features languages. Similarities level lexis grammar can process