Significance of error analysis
- 2. EA is a branch of applied linguistics and it is very important in second and foreign language teaching and learning. Here are the definitions of error analysis given by different authors, Richards et.al (1985:96) states: “ Error analysis is the study of errors made by the second and foreign language learners.” Brown (1980:166) defines error analysis as: “… the process to observe, analyse, and classify the deviations of the rules of the second language and then to reveal the systems operated by learner.”
- 3. Crystal (1987:112 ) comments : “… error analysis is a technique for identifying, classifying and systematically interpreting the unacceptable forms produced by someone learning a foreign language, using any of the principles and procedures provided by linguistics.” Considering above definitions, we can say that- error analysis is an activity to identify, describe, interpret, evaluate and prevent the errors made by the learners. EA is a method used to document the errors that appear in learners language .
- 4. Collect data Identify errors Classify errors Quantify errors Analyze source Remediate
- 5. Norrish(1987 ), to define the term, comments: “error is a systematic deviation, when a learner has not learnt something and consistently gets it wrong” Cunning worth(1987:87) remarks: “ Errors are systematic deviations from the norms of the language being learned.”
- 6. Errors are the result of incomplete learning and linguistic incompetency of the learners and errors cannot be self-corrected. Mistakes are the results of poor performance of language due to many factors like fatigue and carelessness on the part of learners etc. Learners have the knowledge of the correct linguistic form and they can self-correct themselves on the basis of their linguistic knowledge. Brown and Corder states mistake as a performance error. This is the basic difference between errors and mistakes. In short, the role of the error analysis is no doubt very important in second and foreign language teaching and learning.
- 7. The behaviourists view errors as a symptom of ineffective teaching or as evidence of failure learning. Consequently, error is inevitable; it is in fact an integral part of the learning process and developing competence, rather they are crucial parts and aspects in the process of learning a language. Corder (1967) argues that errors provide evidence of how language is learnt.They serve as “tools” through which the learner discovers the rules of the target language.
- 8. Errors are fully acceptable in EA and treated them as part of a creative process towards the achievement of linguistic perfection and communicative meaning. Errors are seriously considered as important linguistic elements that can’t be avoided nor criticized. Errors are no longer seen as signs of failure that have to be prevented and eradicated, but are rather considered as signs of developmental processes involved in the learning of language. Errors may also help to better understand the process of second and foreign language acquisition.
- 9. EA may provide insights into the complicated processes of language development as well as a systematic way for identifying, describing and explaining students' errors. EA aims to provide the knowledge about the different errors committed by the learners and also highlights the causes and reasons behind those errors. Error analysis is basically the linguistics analysis and it throws light on the different underlying processes that are involved in the very complex phenomenon of language learning.
- 10. It is the major area of applied linguistics and tries to resolve the problems and issues related to the second and foreign language learning as well as teaching and it also offers practical solutions for the language related problems. It is also an attempt in providing different strategies to the language practitioners and teachers for making their teaching effective. It also highlights the importance of using the meaningful material for language teaching. It provides the learners an opportunity of self-correcting by making them aware of their mistakes.The study also tries to find out the reasons behind the poor performance of these students in language learning area.
- 11. According to Keshavarz (2003, 2006), the field of error analysis is divided into two branches: Theoretical Analysis of Errors: Theoretical analysis of the errors tries to find out the problems and issues related to language learning and explore the underlying structures that work in the process of language learning. It investigates the reasons of the errors in the process of learning. Applied Error Analysis: It deals with designing material and other remedial courses and methodologies for resolving those problems that are highlighted by the theoretical analysis of the errors.
- 12. Error analysis hardly goes by any insights into the course of the second language learning process. The first step in nearly all error analyses is compiling a corpus of SL/FL utterances.The second stage is isolating the error in such a corpus. After the second stage the attention is usually entirely focused on what the learner cannot do but no attention is paid to what the learner can do.