2. The Types of Error
Mohammad S Haded in his book “The Merits of Exploiting Error Analysis in
Foreign Language Teaching and Learning ” write types of error are devided into
five, which is the writer explain ”
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a. The Omission of Auxiliary
The omission of auxiliary is caused by mother tongue interference. The error that
figured prominently in the students’ answer, either in the progressive or perfect structures.
b. Incorrect verbs forms
Includes the wrong formation of past tense of infinitive verbs and verb. Phrases that have participle past auxiliary. The error that appeared to be a
systematic is the over-generalization of past tense forms. The students sometimes have problem with past participle formation. This fault could be attributed to
intra-lingual confusion since in some cases the subjects applied the past tense marked “-ed” of regular forms to irregulars ones.
c. Unmarked third person singular verb
The students sometimes fail to mark the third person singular verb in the simple present tense. Haded thinks that error is not a case of mother tongue
interference, but it can be attributing to intra-lingual difficulty. Haded also say it might be a consequence of the influence of teaching technique in the sense that
classroom drills of the form do not make sufficient distinction between marked and unmarked forms.
d. Wrong tense sequence
Many students often make wrong tense application. This type of error is not mother tongue interference but mostly due to ignorance of target language
restriction on tense sequence.
3
Moh S. Haded, The Merts of Exploitibf Error Analysis in Foreign Language Teaching and Learning, RELC Journal, vol 29, Singapore: SEAMEO Regional Language Centre, 1998, p.60-
63
e. Miscellaneous
Another type of error gathered from the study demonstrate a systematic use, for example the use of “be + infinitive”. Betty Schrampfer Azar in her book
Understanding and Using English Grammar gives guidance for correcting writing error. In the book, the types of error are explained more details. The error are
classified as” singular-plural, word form, word choice, verb tense, add a word, omit the word, word order, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, article, and
meaning not clear, incomplete sentence, and run on sentence.
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f. Error of performance
Performance is what actually occurs in practice. Error of performance are errors that occur in speaker’s performance. This type of error is the result of the
mistake in language use and manifest themselves as: a.
Repeats, for example; she should keep to keep room clean. b.
Anticipation, for example; On Monday she always buys two France bread. c.
A correlation and repeat, for example; they wanted they said wanted to go.
3. The Cause of Error
According to Jack Richards the causes of error are divide into four categories, they are as follows:
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a. Overgeneralization
It is the use of the previously learnt rules in new situation. It means that the learner makes a rule on the basis of his experience of other rule in the
target language. b.
Ignorance of rules restriction This type of errors are the result of failure to observe the restrictions of
existing structure, that is the application rules to context where they do not apply.
4
Betty S. Azar, Understanding and Using English Grammar, new Jersey: Prantice Hall Inc., 1989, pA29
5
Jack Richard, Error Analysis: Perspective in Second Language Acquisition, London: Longman, Group Ltd, 1974, p,174
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