ERROR ANALYSIS
Outlines
Objectives
Introduction to Error Analysis
Difference between Error and Mistake
Types of Errors in Linguistics
Forms of Errors
Sources/Causes of Errors
Steps in Error Analysis
Conclusion
Objectives
At the end of this presentation students will be able to:
Define error and error analysis
Identify the different types of errors
Explain the sources of errors
Describe the process of error analysis
What is an error?
An error is a systematic deviation from the rules of the target language
Errors occur when learner deviates from the norms of the language
being learned.
An error is the use of a word, speech or grammatical items in such a
way it seems imperfect and indicates an incomplete learning.
Differences Between Error and Mistake
Error Mistake
Error is systematic deviation Mistake is random deviation
Error cannot be self corrected Mistake can be self corrected
Errors occur due to incomplete
Mistakes occur due to carel
learnig
Error Analysis
Error analysis, a branch of “applied linguistic” developed by Pit Corder
in 1960s.
Error analysis is the study of errors made by the second and foreign
language learners.”
It is the process to observe, analyze, and classify the deviations of the
rules of the second
Why Error Analysis Is Done?
1. To find out the level of language’ proficiency the learner has reached.
2. To obtain information about common’ difficulties in language learning.
3. To find out how people learn a language.
Types of errors
There are two types of errors
1. Interlingual errors
2. Intralingual errors
1. Interlingual Errors
Errors that occur due to the negative influence the mother tongue on
the performance of target language are interlingual errors.
It depends on linguistic differences between the first and the target
language.
Interlingual Errors
Examples
Substitution of words like “ there -> three”
Shortening of long vowels like “ sheep -> ship”,”meet->”
Transfer of the morphological elements of L1 Two pig took the role of
leader (pigs)
Interlingual Errors
Examples
Substitution of words like “ there three”
Shortening of long vowels like “ sheep ship”,”meet mit ”
Transfer of the morphological elements of L1 Two pig took the role of
leader (pigs)
2. Intralingual Errors
Intralingual error is an error that takes place due to a misuse of a
particular rule of the target language
Intralingual errors occur due to the faulty or partial learning of target
language.
It is, in fact, quite the opposite of interlingual error, it puts the target
language into focus.
Intralingual Errors
Examples:
Overgeneralization when a learner uses the regular past tense verb
ending -ed like “l walked” to produce sentences like “l goed” or”l rided”
because he thinks that “ed” rule can be applied to every verb.
Faulty categorization she wants to lives in Paris (live)
Forms Of Errors
Omission
Leaving out some required linguistic elements.
Example: My Father is doctor (instead of My father is a doctor)
Addition
Unnecessary use of certain elements in senteces
Example: Please answer to my letter soon.
Substitution
Replacement of incorrect elements for correct ones
Example: I am not afraid from dogs.
Sources/Causes of Errors
Sources/Causes Of Errors
1. Overgeneralization
2. Incomplete application of rules
3. Transfer error
4. The teaching style
5. The materials
6. Literal translation
7. Communication strategies
8. Carelessness and lack of motivation can also be a source of error
Steps in Error Analysis
Collection of
Data
Correction of Identification
Errors of Data
Explanation Description
of Errors of Errors
1.Collection of Errors
The first stage of error analysis is ‘collection of error’. In this stage We
have to collect the relevant data that contains errors committed by the
language learners. Data may be written or spoken, general or specific
2.Identification of Errors
In second stage, existing errors in data are identified. It means
distinguishing errors. For this, errors are distinguished from mistakes in
general.
Errors are distinguished from mistakes on the basis of their occurring
frequency.
3.Description of Errors
Description of the errors is a comparative process between the learner’s
incorrect sentence and correct statement to show where the learner has
committed the error.
The description of errors follows the categorization of errors such as
grammatical errors which includes. Omission, Addition, Substitution,
wrong transformation, wrong plural formation and use of wrong verb
forms etc
4.Explanation of Errors
The explanation of errors is concerned with accounting for why and
how errors come about.
The explanation of errors is an investigation into the reasons as to why
the learner has deviated from the rules of the target language.
In other words we can say that explanation of error means determining
the couses of error.
Correction of Errors
In the correction of errors, the teachers correct the errors or the learners
correct themselves under the guidance of the teacher. It is not the
actual stage of error analysis but goal of error analysis.
Conclusion
Error analysis is a useful technique to define the learner’s errors of
second language.
It is beneficial to the learner and the teacher both because it gives
valuable feedback to both teachers and learners regarding strategies
and progress.
It is compulsory to evaluate the current status of the learner. It also
indicates the problem areas and the solutions of them.
