Contrastive Analysis and Error Analysis: The Difference
Contrastive analysis is a method of comparing two languages to identify similarities and differences in their structure, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
The objective is to use this analysis to help language learners overcome obstacles in learning a new language.
Error analysis is the process of identifying and analyzing the errors made by language learners when attempting to communicate in a new language.
This process helps teachers understand the challenges their students are facing and design appropriate interventions to address them.
In contrast to error analysis, which begins with errors made when learning a second language and examines them in the context of their causes and significance, contrastive analysis compares the systems of two languages and predicts only the areas of difficulty or error for the learner.
In this article, an an overview of the differences between contrastive analysis and error analysis, two methods used in language teaching to help learners overcome obstacles in learning a new language will be discussed.
Contrastive Analysis and Error Analysis: The Difference
As previously mentioned, Contrastive Analysis is a method of comparing two languages to identify similarities and differences in their structure, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
This method is used to identify areas of the target language that might be particularly challenging for learners based on their native language.
Contrastive Analysis
- Focus on the differences between the native language and the target language
The primary focus of contrastive analysis is on the differences between the native language and the target language. By identifying these differences, teachers can design lessons that address the specific needs of their students.
- Comparison of linguistic systems
Contrastive analysis compares the linguistic systems of two languages, identifying differences in grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
This process is intended to help learners avoid making errors that might arise from applying the rules of their native language to the target language.
- Application in language teaching
Contrastive analysis is used to design lessons that address the specific needs of learners based on their native language.
By focusing on areas of the target language that are particularly challenging for learners based on their native language, teachers can help students overcome obstacles to learning.
- Examples of Contrastive Analysis
An example of contrastive analysis would be comparing the sentence structure of English and Spanish. English has a subject-verb-object (SVO) sentence structure, while Spanish has a subject-object-verb (SOV) sentence structure.
This difference in sentence structure can be challenging for Spanish-speaking learners of English, as they may try to use an SOV structure in English, which can result in errors.
Error Analysis
- Definition of Error Analysis
Error analysis is the process of identifying and analyzing the errors made by language learners when attempting to communicate in a new language.
The objective is to identify the specific errors learners are making and design appropriate interventions to help them overcome these errors.
- Identification and analysis of errors made by second language learners
Error analysis focuses on identifying and analyzing the errors made by second language learners. The objective is to identify the specific errors learners are making and design appropriate interventions to help them overcome these errors.
- Focus on individual errors rather than systematic differences
Unlike contrastive analysis, which focuses on identifying differences between the native language and the target language, error analysis focuses on individual errors made by learners.
The objective is to identify the root cause of the error and design appropriate interventions to help the learner overcome the error.
- Application in language teaching
Error analysis is used to design interventions that help learners overcome specific errors. By focusing on the root cause of the error, teachers can design interventions that address the specific needs of the learner.
- Examples of Error Analysis
An example of error analysis would be identifying that a learner is consistently making errors with verb tense. The teacher might identify the specific errors the learner is making (e.g., using the present tense instead of the past tense) and design interventions to help the learner overcome these errors.
Differences between Contrastive Analysis and Error Analysis
The primary objective of contrastive analysis is to identify the differences between the native language and the target language, while the primary objective of error analysis is to identify and address individual errors made by learners.
Scope
Contrastive analysis compares the linguistic systems of two languages, while error analysis focuses on the specific errors made by learners.
Methods
Contrastive analysis compares the linguistic systems of two languages to identify areas of the target language that might be particularly challenging for learners. Error analysis identifies individual errors made by learners and designs interventions to address those errors.
Focus
Contrastive analysis focuses on the differences between the native language and the target language, while error analysis focuses on individual errors made by learners.
Application in language teaching
Contrastive analysis and error analysis both have practical applications in language teaching. Contrastive analysis can help teachers design lessons that address the specific needs of learners based on their native language, while error analysis can help teachers design interventions that address the specific errors made by learners.
Importance of Contrastive Analysis and Error Analysis in language teaching
Both contrastive analysis and error analysis are important tools for language teachers. By using these methods, teachers can design lessons and interventions that address the specific needs and challenges of their students.
This can help students overcome obstacles in learning a new language and ultimately achieve greater proficiency in their target language.
In conclusion: Contrastive analysis and error analysis are two methods used in language teaching to help learners overcome obstacles in learning a new language.
Contrastive analysis compares the linguistic systems of two languages to identify areas of the target language that might be particularly challenging for learners based on their native language. Error analysis identifies individual errors made by learners and designs interventions to address those errors.