Institutional Repository | Satya Wacana Christian University: Invesgating Ambiguity in EFL Student Writing
INVESTIGATING AMBIGUITY IN EFL STUDENT WRITING
Rio Giovano Setiawan
Abstract
Various interpretations are the indication that ambiguity happen in communication
process. At time EFL students’ writing indicating various interpretations, it is possible for
the reader to misinterpret the meaning of EFL student writing. This current study focus on
investigating ambiguity types in EFL student writing. In order to achieve the goal, 66
English Teacher Education Program students of Satya Wacana Christian University were
involved in this study. The participants' writing assignments were copied and analyzed
using Norton's (1975) Ambiguity Classification. The data obtained further being classified
in to Scopes of Ambiguity proposed by Sennet (2011) and described in qualitative. The
findings revealed that EFL students tend to make ambiguous statement especially in
uncertainty as the most ambiguity types. Based on the results of this study, teachers are
recommended to emphasize students with more intensive writing assignment together
with peer feedback to measure their writing understanding. Further implication of this
study lies on finding the method to teach ambiguity to EFL learner and reduce ambiguity
especially in EFL context.
Key words: Ambiguity, Types of Ambiguity, Scopes of Ambiguity, Ambiguity Analysis
Rio Giovano Setiawan
Abstract
Various interpretations are the indication that ambiguity happen in communication
process. At time EFL students’ writing indicating various interpretations, it is possible for
the reader to misinterpret the meaning of EFL student writing. This current study focus on
investigating ambiguity types in EFL student writing. In order to achieve the goal, 66
English Teacher Education Program students of Satya Wacana Christian University were
involved in this study. The participants' writing assignments were copied and analyzed
using Norton's (1975) Ambiguity Classification. The data obtained further being classified
in to Scopes of Ambiguity proposed by Sennet (2011) and described in qualitative. The
findings revealed that EFL students tend to make ambiguous statement especially in
uncertainty as the most ambiguity types. Based on the results of this study, teachers are
recommended to emphasize students with more intensive writing assignment together
with peer feedback to measure their writing understanding. Further implication of this
study lies on finding the method to teach ambiguity to EFL learner and reduce ambiguity
especially in EFL context.
Key words: Ambiguity, Types of Ambiguity, Scopes of Ambiguity, Ambiguity Analysis