1 On the Acquisition of English Articles with Bosnian L2 Learners of English Adi Maslo Department of English Language and Literature University of Džemal Bijedić Mostar, BiH adi.maslo@unmo.ba Abstract: Regarding the discrepancy between the English and the Bosnian language concerning an article system, this paper attempts at clarifying the difficulties for Bosnian L2 learners of English. Based on a similar study and an experimental study with Bosnian learners, this paper illustrates and copes with the very apparent and widely present issue of English articles among Bosnian learners. The principles of Definiteness and Specificity are introduced to contrast the two languages, aiding to a deeper understanding of this conceptual difference between English and Bosnian. The paper first states the current position of the English (definite and indefinite) article in the light of the Bosnian language, and specifies their respective Bosnian equivalents, eventually giving a suggestion to a deeper understanding. Key Words: articles, the, a, English, Bosnian, language, article, system Introduction According to different authors, the English article system is one of the most difficult elements for L2 learners of English. The problem can be found by both English language learners whose L1 language has an article system, and the ones whose L1 language lacks such structural element. However, the manifestation of this issue is different. Students of the English language whose L1 language does have an article system, tend to reflect the article system regulations onto the English article system, whereas ESLs whose L1 language lacks an article system cannot find underpinnings in their mother tongue. Among languages such as Japanese, Russian, Finish and Chinese, the Bosnian language is one that lacks a formal element which would stay for the English article. However, the Bosnian language has different means of referring. Be it as it may, for the purposes of a better cross-cultural understanding, such a discrepancy must be kept in mind, being aware that English articles are the most widely spread in any written text or speech in English. Having stated that there is no formal item which would be an equivalent for the English article, the question arises – how to teach Bosnian students to adopt this phenomenon? What does it depend on, if there isn‟t a formal substitute for the English article? What the Bosnian literature offers is merely a division of places where the or a(n) or a zero article appear which is not a solution to the issue, since this issue is more deeply rooted and linked to a conceptual understanding of language.