CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW
B. Language Error
1. The Essence of Language Error
Language error is one of impacts of language interference. In the process of language learning, it can influence learners’ ability to master a new language, and their communication performance either in oral or written forms. It is related to the deviation of language systems, and norms like misusing of punctuation, language form, and spelling. This error can happen in various language units such as morpheme, word, phrase, clause, and sentence that deviate from the systems and rules of standard language.
2. Categories of Language Error
Language error can happen in the all elements of language and the aspects of language. In this case, James (1998) classifies the error into two major categories, namely: (1) linguistics category classification and (2) the surface structure taxonomy. The classifications of language error are explained as follows:
a. Linguistics Category Classification
It relates to the language errors appearing on the level of language components or elements. It distinguishes language error based on the consistency of the language itself. The errors can appear in the fields of linguistics such as phonology, morphology, syntactic, and semantic.
b. The Surface Structure Taxonomy
It relates to language errors appearing based on the deviation of target language. This category is divided into four types as follows:
1) Omission
It happens when learners omit one or more elements of target language needed in a phrase or a sentence. It can cause language deviation in a phrase or a sentence of a language. In other words, it can cause language deviation of phrase and sentence construction.
2) Addition
It is as the opposite of the previous one. It means that it appears when learners put extr or unnecesarry elements of target language. It can cause language deviation in a phrase or a sentence of a language.
In other words, it can cause language deviation of phrase and sentence construction.
3) Misformation
It happens when learners form a phrase or a sentence which is not based on the L2 systems and rules. It can cause language deviation of phrase or sentence construction.
4) Missordering
It happens when learners arrange or order a phrase and a sentence which is not based on L2 systems and rules. It can cause language deviation of phrase or sentence construction.
In addition, Corder classifies the surface structure taxonomy into four categories, namely: (1) omission, (2) addition, (3) selection, and (4) missordering. In this case, Murtiana (2019) had analyzed L1 interference by using the theory towards Indonesian EFL learners in writing. In the research, she found and analyzed several aspects of interlingual errors on the levels of grammatical and lexical interference using the taxonomy. The aspects of L1 interference are presented in the following table:
Table 1.7 The Surface Structure Taxonomy No. Error Category Interference
Identification The Correct Form of L2 1. Morphological
Omission
The melody of some musical instrument
The melody of some musical instruments 2. Syntactical
Omission
it is sooting it is soothing
3. Morphological addition
The song can makes me feel comfortable
The song can make me feel comfortable
4. Syntactical Addition
my favorite songs are like hip hop and rap genre
my favorite songs are hip hop and rap genre
5. Morphological Selection
The last and the lovest song
The last and most loved song
6. Lexical Selection In material arts, several movements are offered
In martial arts, several movements are offered 7. Syntactical
Selection
We usually interact from the commented on Instagram
We usually interact from the comments on Instagram
8. Lexical Missordering
Group band acoustic Accoustic group band 9. Syntactical
Missordering
Many things I can get from a variety of activities
I can get many things from a variety of activities Based on the table, error categories classified by using the surface structure taxonomy which were devided into four categories, namely omission, addition, selection and misordering. The errors were in the categories of morphological, syntactical, and lexical which were divided into eleven categories. The first interfeerror category was omission. It occured in the categories of morphological and syntactical. For instance, in the category of morphological, the learner wrote, “The melody of some musical instrument.” instead of “The melody of some musical
instruments.” In the case, the learner used the wrong form of word instrument where they omitted the suffix –s.
The second error category was addition. It occured in the categories of morphological and syntactical. For instance, in the category of syntactical, the learner wrote, “My favorite songs are like hip hop and rap genre.” instead of “My favorite songs are hip hop and rap genre.” In this case, the learner added the unnecessary word like in the sentence.
The third error category was selection. It occured in the categories of morphological, syntactical, and lexical. For instance, in the category of morphological, the learner wrote, “The last and the lovest song.” instead of “The last and most loved song.” In this case, the learners selected the wrong comparative adjective form of the word.
The fourth error category was missordering. It occured in the categories of syntactical and lexical. For instance, in the category of syntactical, the learner wrote, “Many things I can get from a variety of activities.” instead of “I can get many things from a variety of activities.” This case happended because the learner did not arrange the phrase correctly.
Based on the explanation above, it can be concluded that categories of language error can be seen from the fields of linguistics and the taxonomy of grammatical context. Thus, in this research, the researcher focuses on the errors happening in the the surface structure taxonomy category to analyze the learners’ L1 interference because grammar and writing has strong relationship and cannot be separated.
3. Sources of Language Error
Language errors conducted by learners can be caused by some sources.
Richard and James point out that there are two main sources that can cause language error in language learning. Those are called intralingual transfer and interlingual transfer. The sources of language error are explained as follows:
a. Intralingual Transfer (Developmental Errors)
This language error source can cause language errors referring to general characteristics or complexity of target language rules. It can refer to overgeneralization, ignorance of rule restriction, incomplete application of rules, and false hypotheses concept.
b. Interlingual Transfer (Interference Errors)
This language error source can cause language errors caused by the deviation of L1 different systems. It refers to language transfer of L1 elements to the L2.
Based on the explanation above, it can be concluded that language errors can be caused by either intralingual source or interlingual source. Intralingual source refers to the deviation caused by the characteristics of L2 itself while intrerlingual source is caused by the L1 interference of the learners. In this research, the researcher just focuses on the interlingual transfer because interlingual factors relates to L1 interference.
4. Analysis of Language Error
Analysis of language error or usually called error analysis (EA) can be defined as a way or a procedure that is used by researchers to collect data relating to the deviation of a language. It is intended to identify, to explain, to classify, and to evaluate the language error conducted by language learners.
Moreover, it consists of several procedures that should be done by the researcher. Corder suggests several steps of errors analysis, namely: (1) collecting corpus, (2) identifying the language errors, (3) classifying the language errors, (4) explaining the language errors, and (5) evaluating the language errors.