Introduction

Knowledge of more than one language has only recently been recognized as a factor which influences the use of the native language. ‘Reverse’ or ‘backward’ transfer, as it is sometimes termed, is described by Cook (2003) as having either positive, negative or neutral effects on native language production and comprehension. Categorizing an example of the phenomenon in question along the lines of this distinction may, however, be susceptible to criticism, since it seems to depend on subjective justification. The focus of the present paper is to present some of the recent findings concerning the influence of the second language (L2) on the use and perception of syntactic structures in the first language (L1). I will concentrate here on the views on priming and the problem of language attrition and try to show that similarities and differences between the syntax of two languages, e.g. Polish and English, could prove an interesting area for future research.

Linguistic interference

It has not been more than a decade since the influence of L2 on L1 began to arouse linguists' interest. Although in one of the most influential books on language contact, Weinreich (1970) did not exclude the possibility for either language of the bilingual to be influenced by the other, at first mainly the effects of L1 on L2 were investigated. As the influence of L2 on L1 is hard to detect unless L1 has undergone erosion and become markedly different from the norm, it usually cannot be studied without employing sophisticated experimental methods and equipment.