Error Analysis

What is EA?EA is a technique which aims to describe and explain the systematic nature of deviations or errors generated in the learner’s language.

Error Analysis

The importance of EA?1. EA helps to understand the

process of SLA.2. EA shows statistically the

troublesome linguistic areas or errors that L2 learners encounter in learning.

Error Analysis

3. The errors give valuable feedback to both teachers and learners regarding learner strategies and progress.

4. The errors also provide researchers with insights into the nature of SLA process.

EA Assumptions

1. EA is not restricted to errors caused by negative transfer from the L1, it covers all types of errors.

EA Assumptions

2. EA, unlike CA, provides data on real problems and this may lead to right solutions in the L2 teaching.

EA Assumptions

3. EA is not confronted with problems such as accurate and explicit descriptions of languages, compatibility, knowing the two languages, etc.

1. Collection of errors

2. Identification of errors

EA Methodology

3. Classification of error types

EA Methodology

4. Statement of relative frequency of error types

5. Identification of the areas of difficulty in the L26. Determination of

the source of errors

EA Methodology

7. Determination of the seriousness of the error

8. Remedy by the teacher in the classroom

Classification of Errors

Interlingual Errors Intralingual Errors

Or Transfer Errors, i.e. Errors due to the effect from L1.

Or Overgeneralization Errors, i.e. Errors due to the effect from L2.

Classification of Errors

Interlingual Errors Intralingual Errors

Phonological

SyntacticSemantic/b/ for /p/

*Huda good student

Literal translation:

*You fall from my eye

Classification of Errors

Interlingual Errors Intralingual Errors

Phonological

SyntacticSemanticCount vs. Country

*The letter sent to Ali

Idiomatic expressions:

*What’s up Mike!!

EA Critics

1. Errors may be wrongly classified between language tasks. The same error may be classified as interlingual and intralingual:

*He intelligent.

EA Critics

2. EA stresses only on what the learner cannot do at a given point in time. It doesn’t give any insights into the course of SLA process.

EA Critics

3. Difficulty of error identification which is mainly due to the different usages of the L2 norms:

formal vs. informal context

spoken vs. written language

EA Critics

4. Learners some times adopt the avoidance strategy not commit errors. In this case certain types of errors don’t appear in the L2 learner’s performance.