The Steps of Error Analysis
Meanwhile, Richards divided causes of error into four areas: a.
Overgeneralization. Learners make overgeneralization of rules that they are learning which
cause errors occur. b.
Ignorance of rule restriction. This is the application of rule to contexts where they do not apply.
Learners sometimes ignore the rule restriction that must be applied. c.
Incomplete application of rules. This is the occurrences of structures whose deviant represents the degree
of development if the rule required to produce acceptable utterances. d.
False concept hypothesized.
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This is a faulty rule learning at various levels, there is a class of developmental error, which derived from faulty comprehension of
distraction in the target language. There are some sources of error:
a. Interlingual Transfer.
Interlangual transfer is a significant source of error for all learners. The beginning stages of learning a second language are especially
vulnerable to interlingual transfer from the native language, or interference. In English language learning process, students still bring L1
to L2 because they are learned by the same habit formation process. Therefore, either positive or negative transfer occurs. Positive transfer is
similar structures facilitate learning. L1 habit can successfully be used in L2. Negative transfer is interference from the L1. L1 habits will cause
errors in the L2. Negative transfer is often become source of error because it causes errors in language learning process.
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Jack C. Richard, ERROR ANALYSIS Perspectives on Second Language Acquisition Longman, 1973, pp. 174
—178.
b. Intralingual Transfer.
Intralingual transfer within the target language itself is a major factor in second language learning. One of examples is overgeneralization,
which is the negative counterpart of intralingual transfer. c.
Context of Learning. A third major source of error is context of learning. Context refers
to the classroom with its teacher and its materials in the case of school learning or the social situation in the case of untutored second language
learning. In a classroom context the teacher or the text book can lead the learner to make faulty hypothesis about the language. Students often make
errors because of a misleading explanation from the teacher, faulty presentation of a structure or word in a textbook, or even because of a
pattern that was rotely memorized in a drill but improperly contextualized. d.
Communication strategies. Communication strategies were defined and related to learning
styles. Learners obviously use production strategies in order to enhance getting their messages across, but at times these techniques can themselves
become a source of error.
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