Analisis De Error

Volume 4, Number 1, June 2002: 42 – 50
Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Kristen Petra
http://puslit.petra.ac.id/journals/letters/
42
Error Analysis in the Teaching of English
Sunardi Hasyim
Abstract
The main purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of error analysis in the
teaching of English as a foreign language. Although errors are bad things in learningEnglish as a foreign language, error analysis is advantageous for both learners and
teachers. For learners, error analysis is needed to show them in what aspect in
grammar which is difficult for them, where as for teachers, it is required to evaluate
themselves whether they are successful or not in teaching English.
In this article, the writer presented some English sentences containinggrammatical
errors. These grammatical errors were analyzed based on the theories presented by the
linguists. This analysis aimed at showing the students the causes and kinds of the
grammatical errors. By this way, the students are expected to increase their
knowledge on the English grammar.
Keywords: errors, mistake, over orrer, covert error, interference,
overgeneralization, grammar,interlingual, intralingual, idiosyncrasies.
Introduction
In recent years, we have recognized some new theoretical and methodological
concepts in foreign language teaching. These concepts are linguistic analysis,
contrastive analysis, and error analysis. Linguistic analysis is the work done by
linguists in providing a descriptive grammar of a language. Contrastive analysis covers
phonology, morphologyand syntax. For example we can contrast between the noun
formation in English and Japanese, and this is of course the area of morphology. The
last to be taken into account is error analysis which is defined as a technique for
identifying, classifying, and systematically interpreting the unacceptable form produced
by someone learning a foreign language, using any of the principles andprocedures
provided by linguistics.
Errors in foreign language teaching especially in English are the cases which are
difficult enough to avoid. Many aspects that can cause the learners of English as a
foreign language make errors. These aspects are interference, overgeneralization,
markers of transitional competence, strategies of communication and assimilation and
teacher-induced errors. Asteachers of English as a foreign language, we should improve
the way we teach to reduce the errors which are always made by the learners.
Further, it is necessary to state that although errors are bad things in learning
English as a foreign language, error analysis is advantageous for both learners and
teachers. For learners, error analysis is needed to show them in what aspect in
grammar which isdifficult for them, whereas for teachers, it is required to evaluate
Error Analysis in The Teaching of English (Sunardi Hasyim)
Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Kristen Petra
http://puslit.petra.ac.id/journals/letters/
43
themselves whether they are successful or not in teaching. Thus, error analysis should
not be neglected in foreign language teaching.
Concept of ErrorAnalysis
Error analysis is an activity to reveal errors found in writing and speaking. Richards
et.al (1985:96) state that error analysis is the study of errors made by the second and
foreign language learners. Error analysis may be carried out in order to (a) find out how
well someone knows a language, (b) find out how a person learns a language, and (c)
obtain information on commondifficulties in language learning, as an aid in teaching or
in the preparation of teaching materials. This definition stresses the functions of error
analysis.
Another concept of error analysis is given By Brown (1980:166). He defined error
analysis as the process to observe, analyze, and classify the deviations of the rules of the
second language and then to reveal the systems operated by learner....