What transfers?

This paper explores native language (L1) transfer as a phenomenon, asking what it means to say some element of the L1 transfers in second language (L2) acquisition. Despite advances in linguistic theory, current L2 research is still often couched in descriptive terms, expecting difficulty in L2 acquisition where there are differences between the native and target languages. Improving on this Contrastive Analyis-type approach requires a more fully specified understanding of Language. This paper attempts to elaborate on the question of what transfers by assuming a derivational approach to language and then exploring the idea of transfer by discussing what it means to say that there is transfer of functional morphology.