The role of language transfer in Arabic-speaking EFL learners’ comprehension of scope ambiguity in doubly quantified sentences

This study examines the influence of language transfer on Arabic-speaking EFL learners’ understanding of quantifier scope ambiguity and the impact of their first language on resolving three types of doubly quantified sentences. Fifty English literature and applied English students from the University of Jordan participated, split into two groups: 25 with medium proficiency and 25 with advanced proficiency. A 14-item test with doubly quantified sentences and static pictures assessed how English proficiency influences comprehension of scope ambiguity across three patterns: numerical, universal, and existential quantifier sentences. Results indicated that higher proficiency participants better understood existential quantifier sentences, which are more complex. However, proficiency did not significantly affect comprehension of universal or numerical sentences. Numerical sentences were the most challenging due to ambiguity in linking numbers and objects, while universal sentences were easier due to their predictable meaning. In line with language transfer theory, the data analysis suggests that L1 syntactic structures influence the processing of doubly quantified sentences, with participants exhibiting tendencies to favour interpretations aligning with familiar L1 patterns. The study concludes that language transfer plays an important role in the accurate identification of scope ambiguity interpretations, particularly when L2 structures diverge from L1 norms, and provides recommendations for future research.