Margins of Error

… of the Twenty-seventh Annual Meeting of …, 2005

2020

Human learning is fundamentally a process, which involves the making of errors: "to err is human." Therefore, the process of language learning, like any other process of acquiring a skill, involves the making of a lot of errors. All learners of a second language commit a number of errors however the efficiency of the learning method and whatever the learning environment and learning conditions. Dulay and Burt (1974: 1) express this notion in the phrase "You can't learn without goofing". They see an error or a "goof" as a natural product of the process of L2 learning "for which no blame is implied."

This paper discusses error analysis as one source of evidence for an overall theory of second language acquisition. Four related areas which form the context for error analysis are discussed in relation to second language learning and the goals and methodology of error analysis; (1) theories of the nature of language which determine theories of error analysis; (2) the study of language systems in contact, which seems to indicate that syntax is subordinate to semantics; (3) the learning of linguistic systems, divided into learning the code (sentence) and learning how to use the code; and (4) the use of linguistic systems in communication, concerned with the nature of the learner's "utterances," in contrast to "sentences." Although the present study is not considered definitive, it is believed that with further study error analysis will greatly influence attitudes toward language-teaching problems. (AM)

2010

2008

Moral error theory of the kind defended by J.L. Mackie and Richard Joyce is premised on two claims: (1) that moral judgements essentially presuppose that moral value has absolute authority, and (2) that this presupposition is false, because nothing has absolute authority. This paper accepts (2) but rejects (1). It is argued first that (1) is not the best explanation of the evidence from moral practice, and second that even if it were, the error theory would still be mistaken, because the assumption does not contaminate the meaning or truth-conditions of moral claims. These are determined by the essential application conditions for moral concepts, which are relational rather than absolute. (AJP Best Paper Award, 2009)

Journal of International Cultural Studies, 2021

Analyzing learners’ language plays a major role in second and foreign language education. Since human language itself is a complicated interactive processing system, analyzing learners language is quite daunting. Several challenges and limitations hinder error analysts from reaching the ultimate goal of their contribution to the English language learning. This study gives an overview of error analysis and its major methodological applications. And common pitfalls encountered in its methods and approaches are mentioned along with suggested solutions. This review article aims to provide important methodological considerations of error analysis so that future error analysis studies get improved in their validity and reliability aspects.