Aisha

Shaheen Dar
Roll number: 16471502-044
Submitted to: Maam Komal
Topic: Error Analysis

Error Analysis
EA approach was proposed by Corder. It is based on
the analysis of learners errors in L2. It focuses on L2
learner’s errors in constructing language.
According to Corder, “An error takes place when
deviation arises due to lack of knowledge. An error
cannot be self corrected.”
EA deals with investigation of learner’s errors made by
second language learners.

Focuses of Error Analysis

i- Error analysis is a linguistic analysis.
ii- It focuses on the errors, learners make
by comparing L1 and L2.
iii- It is an important source of information
to L2 learners.
iv- There was a shift to underlying rules in
explanation of EA.

Justifications of EA
There are two justifications of EA:
i- Its relevance to language development.
 ii- The study of language acquisition
process.

Objectives of EA
There are two objectives of EA:
i- Theoretical objective: it deals with what and
how a learner learns when he studies a second
language.
ii- Applied Objective: it enables the learners how
to apply or use language more efficiently.


Purposes of EA
i- To find out the level of language proficiency the
learner has reached.
ii- To find out how people learn a language.
iii- To obtain information about difficulties in
language learning.


Mistakes and Errors
Mistake: It is a failure to utilise a known system
correctly. It is usually accidental. Learners know its
wrong.
Native speakers make mistakes.


Identification of errors
Overt error: an overt error is easy to identify because
there is a complete deviation in form.
Covert error: it occurs in utterances that are
wellformed but donot identify what learners intended
them to mean.

Steps in EA
Collection: what sample of language are used by
learners for the analysis of errors and how to collect
these samples.

Explanation of Errors: this stage is most important for
SLA as it involves an attempt to explain the processes
responsible for L2 acquisition.


Evaluation of Errors: this step involves what effect the
error has on whoever is being addressed.