Investigating Spelling Errors Committed by EFL Students at the University of Tripoli
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58916/jhas.v8i2.484Keywords:
Spelling errors, foreign language, Second languageAbstract
The purpose of this research is to categorize the most frequent types of spelling errors made by EFL 8th-semester students at the University of Tripoli, and investigate the underlying causes. A quantitative research method was used by collecting composition data from 30 EFL students, with a majority of 26 students exhibiting spelling difficulties. Cook's classification of spelling errors, which includes omission, insertion, substitution, and transposition errors, was used to categorize the errors. The most common errors were found to be omission (41%), followed by insertion (25%), substitution (22%), and transposition (12%). Pronunciation difficulties and the influence of the learners' native language were identified as the primary factors contributing to these errors. The former led to the omission of letters that are not pronounced in the native language, while the latter caused insertion and substitution errors. On the other hand, transposition errors were mainly attributed to the students’ carelessness. Recommendations were given for further studies.
Downloads
References
Albesher, K. B. (2018). Saudi EFL Adult Learners’ Spelling Errors: Reasons and Remedial Strategies to Raise Their Writing Proficiency Level. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature, 7(7), 131. Retrieved May 27, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.7n.7p.131
Al-Jarf, R. (2010). Spelling Error Corpora in EFL. Retrieved June 22, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267834979_Spelling_Error_Corpora_in_EFL
Allaith, Z. A., & Joshi, R. M. (2011). Spelling performance of English consonants among students whose first language is Arabic. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11145-010-9294-3
Alsaawi, A. (2015). Spelling Errors Made by Arab Learners of English. Social Science Research Network. Retrieved June 4, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2818442
Al-Saudi, J. H. (2020). Errors Analysis of Spelling Among University Students of English in Jordan: An Analytical Study. Asian Social Science. Retrieved June 20, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v16n12p19.
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). Non-native speaker. Retrieved 30 May, 2023, from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/non-native-speaker
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). Spelling. Retrieved May 16, 2023, from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/spelling#
Collins Dictionary. (n.d.). Native speaker. Retrieved May 30, 2023, from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/native-speaker Collins Dictionary. (n.d.). Spelling error. In Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved May 30, 2023, from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/spelling-error
Cook, V. J. (1997). L2 Users and English Spelling. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural
Development, 18(6), 474-488. Retrieved June 4, 2023, http://www.viviancook.uk/Writings/Papers/L2Spell97.htm
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches.
Dacosta, P. T., Costa, D., Fransheska, R., & Arias, B. A. (2021). A case Study on the Use of Spelling as a Determining Factor in Teaching English Grammar in Dominican Schools.
Retrieved June 2, 2023, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349702946_i_A_case_Study_on_the_Use_of_Sp elling_as_a_Determining_Factor_in_Teaching_English_Grammar_in_Dominican_Schools
Dich, N., & Pedersen, B. (2013). View of Native Language Affects Spelling in English as a
Foreign Language: A Time-Course Analysis of Proficient EFL Spelling. Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 16(2), 1-21. Retrieved May 25, 2021, from https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/CJAL/article/view/20278/23386.
Eldanfour, E. B. (2022). Analysis of Errors Committed by Libyan Learners of English Language: A Case Study of Libyan Students at Misurata University. Retrieved June 7, 2023, from https://journal.su.edu.ly/index.php/edujournal/article/view/523/378.
Farfar, A. (2023). Most Common Errors in Libyan University Students’ Writing. Retrieved May 27, 2023, from https://uot.edu.ly/publication_item.php?pubid=7751.
Frost, R., Katz, L., & Bentin, S. (1987). Strategies for visual word recognition and
orthographical depth: A multilingual comparison. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 13(1), 104–115. Retrieved May 27, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.1037/0096-1523.13.1.104.
Imtiaz, M., Hassan, K. H. U., & Akmal, F. (2023). Analyzing Spelling Errors Committed by
English as a Second Language (ESL) Learners at Secondary School Level. Journal of Social Sciences Review, 3(2), 181–189. Retrieved June 21, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.54183/jssr.v3i2.246.
Othman, A. K. A. (2018). An Investigation of the Most Common Spelling Errors in English
Writing Committed by English-Major Male Students: At the University of Tabuk. Othman,
Journal of Education and Practice, 9(9), 1-10. Retrieved June 24, 2023, from https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JEP/article/view/40733
Pan, S. C., Rickard, T. C., & Bjork, R. A. (2021). Does Spelling Still Matter—and If So, How
Should It Be Taught? Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-021-09611-y
Prawira, N. N. P., Artini, L. P., Marsakawati, N. P. E., Padmadewi, N. N., Ratminingsih, N. M., & Utami, I. G. a. L. P. (2023). The Implementation of Literacy Activities in Primary School. Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran, 7(1), 150–156. Retrieved May 16, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.23887/jipp.v7i1.56108
Rankin, A. (2023). What is a foreign language? Retrieved June, 30, 2023 from https://www.languagehumanities.org/what-is-a-foreign-language.htm
Wilde, M. (2023). What is a second language? Retrieved June, 30, 2023 from https://www.languagehumanities.org/what-is-a-second-language.htm
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
How to Cite
