Understanding the Causes of Errors

in Applied Linguistics

Lect- 10-B Semester- BS 7th

Instructor : Ubaid
English Department BWN Campus IUB
 Errors
• Inter-lingual errors occur when language learners
transfer rules or structures from their native language
to the target language. For example, a Mandarin
speaker might say "I have 20 years" instead of "I am 20
years old" in English due to differences in language
structure between Mandarin and English.
• Intra-lingual Errors: Intra-lingual errors arise from
within the target language itself, where learners make
mistakes within the rules of the language they are
learning. For instance, an Italian learner might say "I
have make my homework" instead of "I have done my
homework," showing a misunderstanding of verb tense
usage within Italian.
 Errors
• Overgeneralization: Overgeneralization occurs when
learners apply a grammatical rule too broadly,
extending it to contexts where it does not apply. For
example, a German learner might say "He runned fast"
instead of "He ran fast," incorrectly applying the past
tense rule in English.
• Literal Translations: Literal translations occur when
learners directly translate words or phrases from their
native language into the target language, often
resulting in awkward or incorrect expressions. For
instance, a French speaker might say "I am very happy
for meet you" instead of "I am very happy to meet
you" in English.
 Examples of Errors
• Examples of Inter-lingual Errors: Example: A
Spanish speaker might say "She have three
sisters" instead of "She has three sisters" in
English, as the structure of Spanish grammar
differs from English.
• Examples of Intra-lingual Errors: Example: A
Japanese learner might say "I eated sushi
yesterday" instead of "I ate sushi yesterday,"
demonstrating an error in verb tense usage
within Japanese.
• Examples of Overgeneralization: Example: A
Russian learner might say "I have 25 years"
instead of "I am 25 years old" in English,
overgeneralizing the use of the present tense
from Russian.
• Examples of Literal Translations: : Example: A
German speaker might say "I have a cold" instead
of "I am cold" in English, directly translating the
German phrase "Ich habe eine Erkältung."
 Impact of Errors
• Impact of Inter-lingual Errors: Inter-lingual errors can
hinder language fluency and accuracy, as learners may
struggle to adapt to the different rules and structures
of the target language.
• Impact of Intra-lingual Errors: Intra-lingual errors can
impede language comprehension and communication,
as learners may use incorrect grammar or vocabulary
within the target language, leading to
misunderstandings.
• Impact of Overgeneralization: Overgeneralization can
cause confusion in language usage, as learners may
incorrectly apply rules across different contexts,
resulting in grammatical inaccuracies.
 Impact of Errors
• Impact of Literal Translations: Literal
translations can lead to awkward or
nonsensical language use, as learners may fail
to convey intended meanings accurately in the
target language, affecting communication
effectiveness.
 Conclusion:
• Recognizing and addressing the causes of
errors in applied linguistics, including inter
• -lingual errors, intra-lingual errors,
overgeneralization, and literal translations, is
essential for educators to effectively support
language learners in achieving proficiency and
communicative competence.