The Definition of Er r or Analysis

The reconstructed utterance is based on our interpretation of what the students was trying to say. The problem is that we do not know what construction the learner intended. For that reason, corder suggests solution depending on whether we have access to the students or not. Firstly, if the students present we can ask them what they intended to say to make authoritative reconstruction, it called authoritative interpretation. Then, if the students are not available for consultant, we have to attempt an interpretation of their utterances base on its form and its linguistic and situational context. 19 Since the point of this study is analyzing the students’ errors on the form and the usage of degrees of comparison, it is not difficult to interpret what the students want to express in their writing. So, the researcher focuses on the transformations of the adjectives in making comparative or superlative degree. Moreover, many issues arise in identifying students’ errors; one of them is whether a distinction should be made between errors and mistake. In fact, the researcher has explained the definitions about errors and mistakes in the previous session; although, she will give more explanations about the differences between them. Errors arise as a result of lack of knowledge, besides mistakes arise as a result of memory limitations, competing plans, and lack of automaticity. Corder argues that errors analysis should be restricted to the study of errors, and mistakes should be eliminated from the analysis. 20

c. Description of Errors

In analyzing learners’ errors, some linguist makes some classifications of errors. Here are four categories Dulay, Burt, and Krashen classified omission, addition, misformation and misordering. 21 Firstly, omission errors occur when an element of the sentence that should be presented is omitted or by the absence of an item that must appear in a well- formed utterance, and it often occurs in form of morphemes. There are two main types of morphemes: lexical morphemes and grammatical morphemes. Lexical morphemes consist of referential meaning of the sentence such as noun, verb, 19 Ibid ., pp. 37-38. 20 Ellis, op. cit., p. 48. 21 Dulay, op. cit, pp. 154-162. adjective, adverb in the sentence. However, grammatical morphemes, include noun and verb inflections, plays a minor role in conveying the meaning of the sentence. Table 2.1 The Examples of Omission Errors Classifications Error Recognition Error Reconstruction Omission of subject Must write also your name on this form? Must I write also your name on this form? Omission of auxiliary I not crying. I am not crying. Omission of regular past tense -ed A strange thing happen to me yesterday. A strange thing happened to yesterday. Omission of preposition: to I want to go New York I want to go to New York Omission of Progressive -ing I am play with it I am playing with it Note: - Symbol is omission - The bold printed sentences are adopted from Dulay, et al. Secondly, addition errors are the opposite of omission errors. It is a phenomenon in which a certain aspect of language rules is added into a correct order correct sentence. In order words, some elements are presented in which it should not be presented. Table 2.2 The Examples of Addition Errors Classification Error Recognition Error Reconstruction Addition of plural s The books is here The book is here. Addition of present indicative s John doesn’t likes it John doesn’t like it Addition of direct object the hat We took it away the hat We took it away Addition of auxiliary did John wasn’t did swimming John wasn’t swimming Addition of regular past ed I didn’t played with it I didn’t play with it Note: -The underlined letter or word is addition - The bold printed sentences are adopted from Dulay, et al. Thirdly, misformation errors are characterized by the use of the wrong form of the morpheme or structure. In other words, the error of using one grammatical form in the place of another grammatical form or the learner supplies something, although it is incorrect. Table 2.3 The Examples of Misformation Errors Classification Error Recognition Error Reconstruction Misformation of regular past falled I falled down I fell down Misformation of auxiliary did What did you doing at 8 o’clock? What were you doing at 8 o’clock? Misformation of preposistion at Daddy took me at the train Daddy took me to the train Misformation of reflexive pronoun hisself He is licking hisself He is licking himself Misformation of indefinite article an it is an book It is a book Note: - The underlined word is misformation - The bold printed sentences are adopted from Dulay, et al. Finally, misordering errors occur when a sentence which its order is incorrect. The sentence can be right in presented elements, but wrongly sequenced. Table 2.4 The Example of Misordering Errors Classification Error Recognition Error Reconstruction Misordering of verb Be is in simple question What this is? What is this? Misordering of forming noun phrase He is my friend best He is my best friend Misordering of pronunciation or spelling Fignisicant Significant Misordering of negative I was playing not guitar I was not playing guitar Misordering of adverb I eat sometimes candy I eat candy sometimes