In a project-based approach to teaching a foreign language at the university level, students are often required to participate in several task-based writing activities. In doing so, language learners not only write incorrect forms, but also correct forms of the same structures, both of which provide useful information on their strengths and…

Emphasizes that error analysis is not the analysis of the learner's competence. Laments the lack of texts which deal with frequently recurring types of errors, such as those discussed in this article, and which could help to forestall the production of these errors. (IFS/WGA)

The concept of error, or mistake, is a sensitive and crucial issue in both second language learning and second language instruction. Error can play a constructive role in learning and, under some conditions, in teaching, and avoidance of error may be less productive than confrontation with it. (MSE)

Explores error in writing in relation to particular aspects of second language acquisition and theories of the writing process in the first and second language (L2). Argues that a focus on the writing process as a pedagogical tool is only appropriate for L2 learners if attention is given to linguistic development, and if learners are able to get…

This discussion of student output concentrates on reasons for learner's errors, types of errors, and some techniques for correcting them. An error is defined as an unintentional deviation from an expected pattern, which could be a linguistic form, a phonological or a grammatical rule, or an incorrect form or expression in a particular situation.…

Discusses the theory that the second-language processing of subordinate clauses and of anaphora is affected by the basic word order of a learners native language. This phenomenon, believed to be a prediction of universal grammar, is explored. (54 references) (Author/VWL)

A discussion of errors made in second-language learning focuses on the control that the speaker himself exerts over mistakes and argues that this would be a useful area for further research. Implications of such analysis for second-language instruction are considered. (MSE)

Discusses the significance of causation/reasoning patterns in Korean. Presents crucial examples of acquisition errors of the patterns collected from students learning Korean as a foreign language and proposes an alternative explanation and analysis of these patterns.(Author/VWL)

Weak English-as-a-foreign-language students adopt several mistaken strategies to understand text or to perform text-based tasks. This article describes mistaken strategies, provides examples of each, explains the cause or causes of such mistaken approaches, and suggests possible solutions. (Author/VWL)

Attitudes toward and approaches to error in language learning depend on one's point of view: strictly linguistic, pedagogical, or that of the learner. This last approach is that "one learns by making mistakes," and from that perspective, there is no absolute definition of error, but only an operative one. (MSE)

Describes a web-based intelligent computer assisted language learning (ICALL) system for German that provides error-specific feedback suited to learner expertise. Focuses on the Domain Knowledge and Filtering Module. Concludes with a study that supports the need for a CALL system that addresses multiple errors by considering language teaching…

Offers sufficient responses to 60 of the most frequently made errors in German grammar, plus 13 punctuation rules, and proposes that the instructor hand out this list to the students and henceforth "tag" language errors by the corresponding number, then have the student correct them and resubmit the assignment for a better grade. (GLR)

Identifies three types of translation blunders found in international business communication: those due to carelessness, those due to words having multiple meanings, and those due to idioms. A number of mistakes from actual advertising mistranslations are included as examples. (Author/CK)

Lexical semantics and contrastive lexical semantics can serve as a background discipline to describe and, to some extent, to explain errors in interlanguage. Two developments in lexical semantics that are relevant in this area are the description of sense-relationships and componential analysis. Contrastive lexical semantics involves mapping the…

Argues that English-as-a-Second-Language writing can have its own distinctive power and eloquence in spite of, and sometimes because of, its errors. Examines several different kinds of "poetic" nonnativisms, suggesting why they were created and why they may strike native speakers as especially expressive. (SR)