Error Analysis

Errors and mistakes

An error : is a faulty utterance produced by
language learners as a result of incomplete
knowledge.

A mistake : is a faulty utterance

produced by language learners
caused by lack of attention,
fatigue or carelessness.
 Error analysis
The process of studying and analyzing the
errors which are made by second language
learners.
It studies the types and causes of errors.
It is an alternative to contrastive analysis.
How errors are seen by
behaviorists and cognitivists
Behaviorists:
Errors are signs of learning failure.

Cognitivists:
Errors are signs of language development.
Error analysis is important
why?
Errors are helpful for learners to learn.
They are useful for teachers to observe the
learners progress.
They are valuable for researchers to find
out what strategies learners use and how
language is acquired.
 Stages of error analysis
Recognition or identification of errors:
First step.
E.g.
1- George and his child was watching T.V
2- Linda goed to school yesterday.
3- she has taken a translation exam last
week.
comparison.
Stages of error analysis
Description:
Describing and classifying errors.
E.g.
1- George and his child was watching T.V
2- Linda goed to school yesterday.
3- she has taken a translation exam last
week.
 Stages of error analysis
explanation :
Why errors occurred ?
2- Linda goed to school yesterday.
3- The students are clevers.
4- It is car.
Interlingual and intralingual
errors
Interlingual errors:
Errors caused by transferring rules from
mother tongue.
Intralingual errors:
Errors caused by second language
processing in its own terms.
 Sources of errors
According to Jack Richards, therere five factors
explaining learners' types of errors:
1. Mother tongue interference.
2. Overgeneralization.
3. Ignorance of rule restriction.
4. Incomplete application of rules.
5. False concept hypothesized.
Mother tongue interference.
Differences of languages structures.
Arabic English.
E.g.
They are beautifuls.
They students.
 Overgeneralization.

Simplification strategy.
Learned rule applied to all.
E.g. learning to pluralize (-s)

Two pens
Two mouses Three mans- Two foots.
Ignorance of rule restriction.
The learner lack the knowledge of the rule.
E.g. She can translates very well.
 Incomplete application of
rules
Learners apply one of the two
connected rules.
In forming negatives and interrogatives
for instance:
She speaks English pretty well. (positive)
She does not speaks English pretty well.(negative)
Do she speak English pretty well?
(interrogative)
False concept hypothesized.
Learners wrongly assume something.
No rules ignored or overgeneralized.
E.g. Assuming that Verb be am is are
, indicate present tense.
I am speak French.
You are dress elegantly.
Process-based classification of errors means the processes through which
language earners make errors. Four main processes have been cited in the
literature (Brown,2000:288-290):

Omission :leaving out some required linguistic elements

* My father is doctor.
* I am learn English well.
* I bought three book yesterday.
Addition: redundant use of certain elements in a sentence
* They always discuss about different matters.
* Please answer to my letter soon.
* He was going to home when I saw him.
Substitution: replacement of incorrect elements for correct ones
* I am not afraid from dogs.
* His bigger brother is a teacher.
* I always do many mistakes in spelling.
Permutation: incorrect word order
* We last night went to the cinema.
* I dont kno why is he late.
* My brother is a driver careful.
 Main Categories
Corder (1973)

omission of some required element

addition of some unnecessary or incorrect
element
selection of an incorrect element
misordering of elements.
 Main Categories
Omission Addition

pronunciation
Elements
A part of speech

* I thinks and * The books is here

*A strange thing happen to me
yesterday
instead of I think and The book is here ,
 Main Categories
Selection ordering

pronunciation

fignisicant instead of
Pronunciation
Morphology
significant
(Morphological)
Syntax
Vocabulary He's get upping now
word order

She is oldest than me He's a dear to me

friend,