Error Analysis in New Language Acquisition

Abstract or Introduction

Error Analysis, used in second language analysis, studies the errors learners make in speech and writing. It also studies the different types of errors and why they were made. In this term paper two different types of learners will be considered who perform spontaneously with the help of a picture story. There will be a special focus on the differences and similarities of their errors. There are various possibilities how samples of learner language can be influenced:

Firstly, the learner and his proficiency level have to be described and it is important if he speaks or learns other languages irrespective of the MT and the target language that is considered in the analysis. The way of instruction plays also an important role because instructed language learning provides a different error background as if the learner tries to learn the language naturalistically.

The second part that has to be described is the language itself. The medium can either be oral or written. Generally, the oral production consist of a more colloquial English for the simple reason that the learner has not as much time to think about formulation than in written speech. Therefore, the Genre and the content of the language production is Error Evaluation and Error correction are additional parts that have not to be included in every Error Analysis.

According to the dictionary of Linguistics the error analysis is subdivided and classified in modality, levels of linguistic description, form, type and cause.