Arabic-to-English Transfer in EFL Writing: Interlingual Influence on Linguistic Structure and Style

Authors

  • Ahmed Kamal Junina Head of the Department of English, Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics and Translation, Al-Aqsa University, Gaza, Palestine Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6670-7100

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32996/fell.2025.2.3.2

Keywords:

Interlingual influence,  Arabic-to-English transfer, EFL writing, Linguistic structure, Stylistic features, Cultural transfer

Abstract

This study explores the influence of Arabic on the English writing by Palestinian EFL students. It focuses on linguistic structure, style, and cultural elements. A qualitative analysis was conducted on 60 essays written by 30 students at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza, Palestine. The findings reveal that Arabic has a significant impact on the English writing of EFL students. Patterns of Arabic-to-English transfer featured in syntax and style. Arabic grammar seemed to shape sentence structure, while rhetorical traditions affect argument organization. The study identifies challenges for students and suggests teaching strategies. It enhances understanding of interlingual influences in EFL contexts and offers guidance for educators to improve writing instruction.

Author Biography

  • Ahmed Kamal Junina, Head of the Department of English, Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics and Translation, Al-Aqsa University, Gaza, Palestine

    Ahmed Kamal Junina is Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics and Head of the English Department at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza, Palestine. He is also a Fellow at the Centre for Comparative and International Research in Education (CIRE) at the University of Bristol, UK. He earned his PhD in Applied Linguistics from Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand, where he was awarded the 2019 ALANZ Best PhD Thesis Prize. Ahmed’s research focuses on English language education in contexts shaped by conflict, displacement, and structural inequality. His academic interests lie at the intersection of applied linguistics, language pedagogy, and sociolinguistics, with a particular focus on resilient pedagogy, how educators and learners adapt and sustain meaningful instruction in times of crisis.

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Published

2025-11-12

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 3

Section

Research Article