Cross-linguistic study : error analysis in the english writing of Djiboutian and Guinean Francophones in IIUM

Abstract

This cross-linguistic study aimed to identify errors in the English writings of Djiboutian and Guinean Francophone learners. Error analyses conducted on Francophone speakers’ writings in this study attempted to show the cross-linguistic influence of French on English writings. Fourteen participants of each from Djibouti and Guinea studying at different faculties at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) were selected. Twenty-eight essays were collected. The analyses of the data were done via content analysis method and Excel and the results are presented in the form of descriptive graphs. The findings reveal the highest frequency in syntactic and morphological errors produced by Djiboutian students whereas, Guinean students scored significant frequency in orthographical and lexical errors. Some errors related to the use of articles, prepositions, tenses, capitalizations, plural/singular forms, and misspelling occurred most frequently in the written production. The results highlight as well the most frequent type of errors which is misformation error for both groups. The sources of the identified errors were related to intra- and interlingual errors. Intra-lingual errors happened due to lack of knowledge and low proficiency of the target language. However, inter-lingual errors were the product of learners’ L2 transfer into the target language. It is suggested to enhance students’ writing ability in L3 and their linguistic knowledge that further contribute to the restriction of errors.