Introduction
A study by Elena Slakhyan published in the World Englishes Journal examines interviews of English-speaking Eastern Europeans of Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish descent. The results of this study can be applied to Belarusian English speakers because more than 70% of the population speaks Russian as their native language. Different linguistic features can be seen depending on the native language of the speaker. A speaker's first language (L1) and second language (L2), if they speak one, influence how he or she speaks English.
A study by Elena Slakhyan published in the World Englishes Journal examines interviews of English-speaking Eastern Europeans of Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish descent. The results of this study can be applied to Belarusian English speakers because more than 70% of the population speaks Russian as their native language. Different linguistic features can be seen depending on the native language of the speaker. A speaker's first language (L1) and second language (L2), if they speak one, influence how he or she speaks English.
Example 1: Use of English Suffixes
Speaker: L1 Ukrainian
Feature: The English suffixes -o and -ology are added to the stem of the L1.
Speech example: "I only have one course, its politology or there is another word like that in English we say politologiya."
Explanation: The terms "politics" and "political science" are referred to as "politology" and "politologiya" by the Ukrainian speaker.
Speaker: L1 Ukrainian
Feature: The English suffixes -o and -ology are added to the stem of the L1.
Speech example: "I only have one course, its politology or there is another word like that in English we say politologiya."
Explanation: The terms "politics" and "political science" are referred to as "politology" and "politologiya" by the Ukrainian speaker.
Example 2: Plural Markers
Speaker: L1 Ukrainian
Feature: Plural markers are added to words that do not require them in English.
Speech Example: "That's why I want to recollect my knowledges, and then to pass TOEFL, and maybe learn some marketing like MBA, or maybe Magister, I don't know in English to say Magister level."
Explanation: In English, the word "knowledge" is an abstract concept that is generally assumed to be plural. In order for "knowledge" to be singular, a speaker would need to add a claus such as "a piece of" to the word. In Ukrainian, the word for "knowledge" requires a plural marker to refer to more than one piece of knowledge. "Magister level" is this speaker's way describing a Master's degree.
Speaker: L1 Ukrainian
Feature: Plural markers are added to words that do not require them in English.
Speech Example: "That's why I want to recollect my knowledges, and then to pass TOEFL, and maybe learn some marketing like MBA, or maybe Magister, I don't know in English to say Magister level."
Explanation: In English, the word "knowledge" is an abstract concept that is generally assumed to be plural. In order for "knowledge" to be singular, a speaker would need to add a claus such as "a piece of" to the word. In Ukrainian, the word for "knowledge" requires a plural marker to refer to more than one piece of knowledge. "Magister level" is this speaker's way describing a Master's degree.
Example 3: Use of Adjectives
Speaker: L1 Polish, L2 German
Feature: German adjectives translated directly into English and used by the speaker, exhibiting different meanings.
Speech Example: "They are one floor deeper?"
Explanation: In American and British English, the adjective "deeper" is not used to refer to floors of buildings. However, in this case the speaker translated the German phrase "einen stock tiefer" (meaning one floor down/below) directly into English.
German influences are relevant to Belarusian English speakers because, until recently, German was the foreign language learned by students in Belarus.
Speaker: L1 Polish, L2 German
Feature: German adjectives translated directly into English and used by the speaker, exhibiting different meanings.
Speech Example: "They are one floor deeper?"
Explanation: In American and British English, the adjective "deeper" is not used to refer to floors of buildings. However, in this case the speaker translated the German phrase "einen stock tiefer" (meaning one floor down/below) directly into English.
German influences are relevant to Belarusian English speakers because, until recently, German was the foreign language learned by students in Belarus.
