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Discuss the sources of errors

      

Discuss the sources of errors

  

Answers


Francis
1. Interlingual transfer
Interlingual transfer is sometimes looked at as interference. It occurs during the early stages of learning a second language. During this stage there’s a good deal of interlingual transfer from the native language to the target language. A learner uses her LI as a resource. This used to be looked on as errors/mistake but it is now recognized that all learners fall back on their LI particularly in the early stages of 2nd language acquisition and that this is a necessary process.

2. Overgeneralization
Is also referred to as intralingual transfer. Intralingual transfer occurs when errors arise within the target language. In such a case a learner has either mislearnt or over generalized particular rules that occur in the target language. Researchers (Falor 1975) have found that the early stages of language learning are characterized by a predominance of interlingual transfer: but once learners have began to acquire parts of the target language they now start using L2 rules in a way which is not permissible. The following are some of the examples of overgeneralization.
a. Does John can sing?
b. She lended me her book yesterday
c. He goed to school yesterday
d. What does pat doing now?
These are errors of generalization where the learners are applying rules learned in the target language indiscriminately.

3. Simplification
The learner simplifies English so that all verbs may occur in the present continuous, yielding sentences such as
- I am knowing him instead of l know him
- I am liking him ” ” l like him
- Mary is liking her new job instead of; Mary likes her job

4. Negative transfer
Previously it was believed that most errors were derived from transfer of the L1 to the L2. This was referred to as interference. But it is now believed that there are many other sources of error unrelated to negative transfer. Negative transfer occurs when learners effectively speak the target language while using, grammar of L1 or another familiar language.

5. Communication strategies
Strategies of L2 communication are also said to have an effect on the IL thus causing errors. Selinker suggested that some elements of the IL could result from specific ways people learn to communicate with native speakers of the TL. For example a Kenyan businessman who frequents America may make an utterance like the following:
*I don’t want no money from you.
It is possible that the businessman may have picked such a construction from the native speakers of English in a conversation and therefore he could simply be using what he often hears the natives use and so he ends up with a wrong construction.
francis1897 answered the question on March 8, 2023 at 12:50


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