Analyzing Morphological Errors and Contextual Influence in Senior High School Students' Written Works: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Morphological skills are essential for developing linguistic competence, as they underpin various aspects of language acquisition, including reading comprehension and effective writing. This study examined morphological errors in the written works of 25 Grade 11 students in the Oral Communication course at Northern Abra National High School, exploring how these errors reflected their understanding of word formation rules and the influence of contextual factors like educational background and language exposure. Using a document analysis design, the research involved evaluating students’ assignments and essays to identify error types and frequencies. A systematic coding process categorized errors through qualitative content analysis, revealing themes related to inflectional, derivational, and compounding errors. The study identified common morphological errors in the written works of 25 Grade 11 students enrolled in the Oral Communication course. Inflectional errors were the most prevalent, comprising 40% of the total, with students frequently misusing verb conjugations and plural forms, indicating a fundamental misunderstanding of grammatical rules. Derivational errors accounted for 30%, highlighting confusion around suffix and prefix application. Compounding errors, at 20%, involved incorrect separation and formation of compound words, leading to clarity issues in writing. Affixation errors made up 10%, reflecting overgeneralization and misuse of affixes. Also, students from well-resourced families made 12% fewer morphological errors than those from under-resourced families, with dedicated language programs leading to a 20% reduction. Teacher expertise contributed to a 15% decrease in errors. Students exposed to multiple languages had 30% fewer errors, with those speaking three or more languages showing a 40% reduction, highlighting the benefits of multilingualism on language skills. Moreover, students with both quality education and extensive language exposure made 35% fewer errors than those lacking either factor. These findings emphasize the need for educational equity and multilingualism to enhance morphological skills. A combined approach integrating quality instruction with diverse language experiences is recommended to improve writing proficiency. Generally, the educational background and language exposure significantly impact Grade 11 students' morphological accuracy. Students from well-resourced schools made fewer errors, especially with effective language instruction, while multilingual students demonstrated enhanced writing proficiency. The synergy between quality education and diverse linguistic exposure is essential for improving students' linguistic skills. To address morphological challenges, educational policies should focus on integrating robust language programs and promoting multilingualism, fostering better writing outcomes for all students.