The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate critically the literature and research findings of SLA pertaining to the phenomenon variously known as transfer, interference, or cross linguistic inf luence. The first chapter focuses on different models of second language acquisition and accounts of transfer therein. By examining different views of the acquisition process it is hoped to/highlight the interaction between universal and language specif ic features of language learning. Chapter Two deals with the competence performance distinction as it relates to cross linguistic inf luence. While there is relatively little dispute about the presence of LI influenced features in inter language production, there is more debate about whether these features reveal anything about the knowledge which is acquired, or whether such features are an artefact of the production process itself. Chapter Threelooks at attempts to give a principled account of what gets transferred where, under what conditions, and why. One criticism sometimes aimed at transfer research is the concentration of empirical studies into particular language domains such as phonology and grammar while other important areas of language acquisition are relatively under-researched. Chapter Four therefore looks at research into cross linguistic influence as it relates to pragmatics and discourse features of language learning. The stated objective of this thesis is a critical evaluation of SLA literature in an attempt to account for the role of crosslinguistic influence in the overall acquisition of a second language.