makes many errors when they are speaking performing, even though the native speaker has, by definition, a perfect command of his language-perfect knowledge
of grammatical rules, lexis and the sound system .”
4
Furthermore, John Norrish states about the error that “Let us call a systematic deviation, when a learner has
not learnt something and constistently „gets it wrong’, it is an error.”
5
Susan and Larry points out about error that “It is likely to occur repeatdly and is not
recognize by the learner as an error.”
6
Based on some definitions from the experts above, the writer would like to define what error is. Error is an inacceptable perm
orfance of the student’s work which find regularly and they cannot self corrected their own mistake. Errors
discuss can be an indicator of the student s’ level in mastery their target. From the
errors that the students commit, one can determine their level of mastery of language system.
2. Differences Between Error and Mistake
It is necessary for distinction between error and mistake because both are different. Ellis explores that
“errors reflect gaps in a learner’s knowledge; they occur because the learner does not know what is correct. Mistakes reflect
occasional lapses in performance; they occur because, in a particular instance, the learner is unable to oerform what he or she knows.
”
7
In addition, Hubbard et.al said that “error caused by lack of knnowledge
about the target language English or by incorrect hypothesis about it; and
4
Hubard., A Training Course for TOEFL, New York: Oxford University Press, 1983, p.133
5
Norrish, Language Learners and Their Errors, London: The Macmillan Press, 1983, p.7
6
Grass and Selinker, Second Language Acquisition: An Introductory Course, London: LawrenceErlbaum Associates, Inc., 2001, p.78
7
Ellis, Second Language Acquisition, New York: Oxford Univerity Press, 2003, p.17
mistake caused by temporary lapses memory, confusion, slips of the tongue and so on.
”
8
Corder in Susan and Larry defines error and mistake that “mistakes are
akin to slip of the tongue. Error is likely to occur repeatdly and is not recognized by the learner.
”
9
Brown examines mistake and error that “a mistake refers to a performance
error that is either a random guess a “slip”, in that it is a failure to utilize a known system correctly. Mistake, when attention is called to them, can be self-corrected.
An error, a noticable deviation from the adult grammar of a native speaker, reflects the competence of the learner.
”
10
Based on some definitions from the experts above, the writer would like to differentiate between mistake and error. Mistake is inacceptable performance by
the student because they are not conscious or focus, inspite of that, they can self corrected their own mistake. On the other hand, error is inccapetable performance
by the student which find regularly and they cannot be self corrected their own error.
3. Cause of Error
Richard divided two causes of error, they are intralingual and developmental error:
a. “Intralingual error are those that reflect the general characteristics of rule
learning such as faulty generalization, incomplete application of rules, and failure to learn conditions under rules apply.
”
11
Brown offers the opinion
8
Hubbard, Hywel Jones, Barbara Thontorn, Ron wheleer, A Training Course for TOEFL, New York: Oxford University Press, 1983, p.134
9
Gass and Selinker, loc.cit.
10
Brown, loc.cit.
11
Richards, The Contex of Language Teaching, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1985, p.47-51
