Corpus-focused Analysis of Spelling Errors in Saudi Learners’ English Translations

Authors

  • Yasir Alenazi University of Tabuk
  • Shen Chen University of Newcastle
  • Michelle Picard Murdoch University
  • Jaime W. Hunt University of Newcastle

Keywords:

spelling errors, translation, L1 transfer, lexical knowledge, error analysis

Abstract

The English language plays a significant role in Saudi Arabia at the local and international levels. Spelling errors, as one of the challenging elements in writing confronted by Saudi learners of English, have a negative effect on the quality of their written translation products (Ababneh, 2019). Therefore, more analytical studies are needed to scrutinize spelling errors through multiple categories to reveal the reasons behind these errors in a specific cultural context. The primary objective of this study is to examine the types of spelling errors in the translations of English majors at a Saudi University, using a comprehensive classification system of spelling errors developed particularly for this study. A corpus of 105 translation texts were collected, and the identified errors were sorted into eleven categories. The frequency of each type of error was calculated and, consequently, the most common errors were determined statistically using frequency analysis. The results revealed that capitalization and omission errors were the most common types of spelling errors among the students. Furthermore, interlingual and intralingual factors were the main reason behind the occurrence of spelling errors. Based on the findings, the study makes a number of recommendations for English language instructors to develop suitable pedagogical solutions to the issue of spelling errors in their students’ translations.

Author Biographies

Yasir Alenazi, University of Tabuk

Yasir Alenazi is an English language lecturer at the Faculty of Arts and Education, the University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. He is currently completing his Ph.D. degree in the field of Education/Applied Linguistics at the University of Newcastle, Australia. His research interests include second language acquisition, error analysis and corpus linguistics.

Shen Chen, University of Newcastle

Shen Chen is an Associate Professor of Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Languages and Teaching Chinese as a Second/Foreign Language TESOL/LOTE. His fields of expertise include culture in foreign language education, computer-assisted language learning, intercultural communication, international education and language teacher training. He is a program convenor (Master of Educational Studies - TESOL) at the school of Education, the University of Newcastle, Australia.

Michelle Picard, Murdoch University

Michelle Picard is an Associate Professor in the field of Education/Applied linguistics. Her fields of expertise include academic integrity, TESOL, higher education, online learning and English for Academic Purposes. She is Dean of Teaching and Learning in the College/Faculty of Arts, Business, Law, and Social Sciences at Murdoch University, Australia.

Jaime W. Hunt, University of Newcastle

Jaime W. Hunt is a linguistics lecturer at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Having studied German and Applied Linguistics, he researches the effects of language contact between English and German. He focuses specifically on the sociolinguistic, lexical, and morphological effects of this contact from two different perspectives. In the European context, he is interested in the influence of English as a feature of globalization upon the German language, whereas, in the Australian context, he investigates language maintenance and shifts among migrant populations who have German as a heritage language.

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Published

2021-11-02

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