NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

What language acquisition issue involves leaving out grammatical articles and plural 's'?

1. Code-switching

2. Interference

3. Omission

4. Simplification

The correct answer is: Omission

The issue of leaving out grammatical articles and plural 's' is identified as omission. In language acquisition, omission refers to the tendency of learners, especially young children and second language learners, to skip certain grammatical elements that they have not yet fully acquired or that they find difficult to utilize. As learners build their understanding of a new language, it is common for them to simplify their speech by omitting components that are deemed less critical for basic communication. In this context, the omission of articles like "the" or "a" and plural forms such as 's' reflects the learner's process of mastering the complexities of English grammar. This phenomenon is a normal part of language development, indicating that the learner is still constructing their grasp of the rules governing the use of such grammatical features. Recognizing omission allows educators to tailor instruction to target these specific areas and help learners gain proficiency in their use. While code-switching, interference, and simplification are related concepts in second language acquisition, they do not specifically describe the act of omitting grammatical components. Code-switching involves alternating between languages, interference refers to the influence of a learner's first language on their second language usage, and simplification generally refers to making language less complex rather than the specific omission of