Article Errors in the English Writing of Saudi EFL Preparatory Year Students

Eid Alhaisoni,Khalid M Al-Zuoud,Daya Ram Gaudel

doi:10.7575/aiac.alls.v.8n.1p.72

Eid Alhaisoni, Khalid M Al-Zuoud + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.8n.1p.72

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Abstract

This study aims at providing a comprehensive account of the types of errors produced by Saudi EFL students enrolled in the preparatory year programe in their use of articles, based on the Surface Structure Taxonomies (SST) of errors. The study describes the types, frequency and sources of the definite and indefinite article errors in writing compositions. Data were collected from written samples of 150 students. They were given one-and-a-half hours to write on one of four different descriptive topics. Analysis of inter-lingual and intra-lingual sources of article errors revealed that the frequency of eliminating both the indefinite articles and the definite article was higher than the frequency of inserting and substituting one article with the other. The study also shows that errors of using ‘a’ were more common than errors of using ‘an’ and ‘the’ in the writing texts. This result also indicates that L1 interference strongly influences the process of second language acquisition of the articles, having a negative effect on the learning process Pedagogical practices including comparison of article use in learners’ both language systems may improve learners’ ability to use the articles correctly in writing and the other language skills.

Highlights

Within the field of second language research (SLR), a large number of studies have focused on error analysis
The classification of errors was based on the Surface Structure Taxonomy (SST), involving categorizing errors as either substitution, omission and insertion
Substitution errors represented the smallest proportion, 8.4%.The study revealed errors related to the indefinite article ‘a’ were more frequent than its counterpart ‘an.’ These results are in line with Alhaysony (2012), who examined article errors of Saudi female students, and found that omission of the articles represented the most frequently occurring errors in her study

Summary

Introduction

Within the field of second language research (SLR), a large number of studies have focused on error analysis. Errors are looked on as adevice that can assist in the learning process. They provide evidence of the learner’s level in the target language, as stated by Gass and Selinker (1984). Richards (2002) mentioned that in the speaking or writing of a second or foreign language, an error is the use of a linguistic item (e.g. a word, grammatical item, speech act, etc.) in a way which a fluent or native speaker of a language regards as faulty or incomplete. An important aspect of language learning, has a vital role in studying the processes that go beyond the understanding of using articles. Hewson (1972) emphasized the importance of using articles and he noted that “the definite and the indefinite article are among the ten most frequent words of English discourse”

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