《On Error Analysis of English Majors’ Writing from the》由会员分享,可在线阅读,更多相关《On Error Analysis of English Majors’ Writing from the(11页珍藏版)》请在金锄头文库上搜索。
1、惠州学院2007届优秀毕业论文(设计)选编On Error Analysis of English Majors Writing from the Perspective of Interlanguage TheoryAuthor: He Dan Supervisor: Lecturer Lin Hong(Foreign Language Department of Huizhou University, Huizhou, Guangdong, 516007)Abstract: Literature reviews of the previous studies on IL and EA ha
2、ve been illustrated in this dissertation. And then a databased analysis of IL has been also made. All the data came from compositions written by English majors at the same class of Huizhou University when theyre in the first year and in the third year respectively. By the use of quantitative analysi
3、s, IL errors from the perspective of language knowledge, intralingual errors, interlingual errors and error sources have been scrutinized. The purpose is to find the distribution changes and frequency changes of IL errors from compositions by the same class at different academic years to gain some i
4、nsights into English language learning.The findings of this research can be summarized as follows: a. First-year students, here, are in a transitional stage between “systematic stage” and “emergent stage”, while third-year students are undoubtedly in a systematic stage.b. Impact of Native language t
5、ransfers learners target language learning should not be neglected.c. Intralingual errors are committed most often by English majors at Huizhou University.d. On the road to approach target language, the key to learning is to strengthen English grammar basic structure and thoroughly comprehend the sh
6、ades of words. Implications for English language learning in Huizhou University have also been summarized in this dissertation.Key Words :Second Language Acquisition; Interlanguage; Error Analysis; Interlingual Errors; Intralingual ErrorsI IntroductionIn the field of second language acquisition, ter
7、minology and theories changed all the time. But one theory has retained its status in this field: the idea of the existence of an interlanguage (IL). Interlanguage refers to the separateness of a second language learners system, a system that has a structurally intermediate status between the native
8、 and target languages. 1P201 However, the nature of the blending, or how “between” is to be interpreted, and the IL systematicities have always been vague in SLA literature.This study will investigate some grammatical problems in the acquisition of English language by English majors at Huizhou Unive
9、rsity. By comparing errors committed at different years study by the same group of students at different years study. We can find out what their dominant errors are and which stage their English levels stay at when quantitative analysis of the distribution, the occurrences of errors from different a
10、spects will be scrutinized. One important reason to do so is that most of them dont know whether they have improved or not after 2 years study. Their knowledge of English will be reflected in their writing of TEM-8 examination. II Literature ReviewIn the past 40 years, studies of second language lea
11、rning have occupied a central place in the field of linguistics. Among the various aspects in such developmental studies, learner language has been the highlight in the field of second language acquisition.2.1 A Review of Second Language Acquisition ResearchThe term “second language acquisition” ref
12、ers to the subconscious or conscious process by which a language other than the mother tongue is learnt in a natural or a tutored setting.2P6 It includes the development of phonology, lexis, grammar and pragmatic knowledge. Second Language Acquisition (SLA) -the study people have showed great intere
13、sts, although it doesnt have a long history. 2.2 Interlanguage Theory (IL)2.2.1 The Definition of ILAccording to Selinker, “interlanguage refers to the separateness of a second language learners system, a system that has a structurally intermediate status between the native and target languages.”1P2
14、01 Nemser referred to the same general phenomenon in second language learning but stressed the successive approximation to the target language in his term approximative system.3P9 Corder used the term idiosyncratic dialect to connote the idea that the learners language is unique to a particular indi
15、vidual, that the rules of the learners language are peculiar to the language of that individual alone.4P151 While each of these designations emphasizes a particular idea, but they share the notion that second language learners form their own language system. 2.2.2 The Stages of IL DevelopmentThere a
16、re many ways to describe the progression of linguistic development and learners are variable in their acquisition. According to H.D.Brown, there are four stages of IL development.“The first is a stage of “random errors”, in which the learner doesnt know that there are some systematic orders to a particular class of items.The second stage is “emergent”. The learner becomes consistent in li