ERIC Number: ED246691
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1984
Pages: 51
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
A Classification of the Lexical Problems of EFL/ESL Students.
Elkhatib, Ahmed Shafik Abdelwahab
Writing samples of four Arab college freshmen students of English as a second language were analyzed. The objectives were to classify the lexical problems found, determine the causes of the problems, and examine the students' choice of certain lexical items in an attempt to determine whether the students were more attuned to the form or the substance of the language. Eight types of lexical errors were found: (1) overgeneralization of the use of one translation equivalent; (2) literal translation; (3) divergence; (4) confusion of words formally or phonetically similar; (5) confusion of related or unrelated words with similar meanings; (6) unfamiliarity with word collocation; (7) overuse of a few general lexical items; and (8) nonce errors (those that seem to defy analysis). Based on the findings, suggestions are offered for teaching lexical non-congruence with the help of semantic field theory and componential analysis, teaching the process of describing meaning, and teaching collocations. Examples and discussion of student errors are included. (MSE)
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A