Volume 6 Issue 4 (2017)

An Error Analysis Case Study: Out of Context Translation of Persian Sentences into English for Elementary EFL Learners

pp. 89-100  |  Published Online: December 2017  |  DOI: 10.22521/edupij.2017.64.6

Yasin Khoshhal

Abstract

This study aims at analyzing errors committed by the Iranian elementary EFL learners. The investigation not only considers the types of errors committed, but also tries to shed light on the sources of these errors. To this end, a worksheet of ten Persian sentences translated from the original English content of the learners’ course book were provided to a class of 20 elementary level English students. The learners were tasked with translating each sentence back into English. The researcher then had to analyze each translated sentence with regard to three aspects of grammar, choice of words, and spelling. The next step was categorizing any errors and finding the frequency of each of them. The results indicated that errors in the use of articles were the most frequent (20% of the total number of errors), followed by the wrong uses of verbs (18.66%), and the wrong use of tense (10.66%). According to the findings, correct use of articles should more often be the focus for EFL context, and the use of correct verbs and tenses should also be absolutely clarified and emphasized. 

Keywords: error analysis, contrastive analysis, EFL, ESL, translation

References

Brown, C. (2000). The interrelation between speech perception and phonological acquisition from infant to adult. UK: Blackwell Publishers.

Brown, H. D. (2007). Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Catford, J. C. (1978). A Linguistic Theory of Translation. London: Oxford University Press.

Chin, C. (2001). Error Analysis: An Investigation of Spoken Errors of Korean EFL Learners.

Corder, S. P. (1967). Significance of Learner’s Errors. Oxford University Press.

Corder, S. P. (1974). Error analysis. In J. P. B. Allen & S. Pit Corder (Eds.), Edinburgh Course in Applied Linguistics: Vol. 3. Techniques in applied linguistics (pp. 122-154). London: Pittman.

Duff, A. (1989). Translation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Dulay, H., Burt, M., & Krashen, S. (1982). Language Two. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Duskova, L. (1969). On sources of errors in foreign language learning. International Review of Applied Linguistics, 7(1), 11-36.

Ellis, R. (1996). Second language acquisition research and language teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Ellis, R. (2008). The study of Second Language Acquisition. New York: Oxford University Press.

Keshavarz, M. H. (2011). Contrastive Analysis and Error Analysis. Tehran: Rahnama Press.

Kim, I. (1988). A study of the errors in the use of the English verbs with special reference to tense, mood, and voice (Unpublished Master’s thesis). Busan National University, Busan, Korea.

Kim, Y. (1997). A study of errors and intelligibility of Korean college students’ utterances (Unpublished Master’s thesis). Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea.

Krisetyawati, B. F. (2010). An Error Analysis on the TRANSLATION of English Noun Phrases into Indonesian of the Fifth Semester Students of the English Department of Teacher Training and Education Faculty, Sebelas Maret University in the Academic Year 2009/2010. Bachelor’s thesis. Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/12351873.pdf

Lennon, P. (1991). Error: Some problems of definition, identification, and distinction. Applied Linguistics, 12(2), 180-196.

Lungu, I. (2003).A Linguistic Approach To Error Analysis in Teaching English as a Second Language. Ovidius University Annals of Philosophy, 14, 323-328.

Nida, E. A. (1964). Toward a Science of Translating: With Special Reference to Principles and Procedures Involved in Bible Translating. Netherlands: Brill.

Ringbom, H. (1987). The role of the first language in foreign language learning. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.

Sanal, F. (2008). Error-analysis based second language teaching strategies. Selcuk University Social Sciences Institute Journal, 20, 597-601.

Simpson, J. (1999). The concise dictionary of proverbs (in Persian) (B. Gorjian, & S. Molonia, Trans.). Ahvaz: Khaledin.

Sinclair, J. (2003). Reading concordances: an introduction. Harlow: Longman.

Tytler, A. F. (1907). Essay on the principles of translation. London: Den.

Vinay, J. P., & Darbelnet, P. (1995). Comparative stylistics of French and English: A methodology for translation (J. C. Sager & M. J. Hamel, Trans.). Amsterdam/ Philadelphia: John Bebjamins.

Widyamartaya, A. (1989). Seni Menerjemahkan. Yogyakarta: Kanisius.

Zawahreh, F. A. S. (2012). Applied error analysis of written production of English essays of tenth grade students in Ajloun Schools, Jordan. International Journal of Learning and Development, 2(2), 280-299.

Announcement

EDUPIJ News!

► Journal Metrics

  • 9% acceptance rate
  • 1.8 (2022) CiteScore (Scopus)
  • Q3 (2022) CiteScore Best Quartile
  • 0.294 (2022) Scimago Journal & Country Rank (SJR)
  • 0.612 (2022) Source-Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP) 

EDUPIJ Statistics from Scopus

CiteScore: 1.8, view Scopus page

SCImago Journal & Country Rank

► Educational Process: International Journal is member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). 

► New issue coming soon! (Volume 13 Issue 2, 2024)