Bae, H. (2020). L1 Japanese L2 English learners’ distinction of atomic mass nouns.

L1 transfer and semantic universals are elements that could influence L2 learners’ acquisition of count/mass distinction. Choi et al. (2018) studied Korean and Mandarin speakers’ acquisition of English count/mass distinction with a Grammar Task, and discovered they are affected by semantic universals rather than L1 transfer. Replicating her research, this study examines Japanese speakers’ acquisition of English count/mass distinction in comparison to Korean and Mandarin speakers’ and found Japanese are also influenced by semantic universals.