AN ERROR ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF QATAR (CCQ) STUDENTS’ ARABIC AND ENGLISH EMAILS TO FACULTY
Keywords:
error analysis, Arabic emails, English emails, L1 interference, reverse transfer, multiple-competencies, hybrid genre, chat languageAbstract
This study analyzes Arabic and English emails written by CCQ students to focus on both the formal as well as grammatical issues. The emails in general have missing parts, such as Introduction, Conclusion and Closing parts. As for the mechanical and grammatical side, both emails in Arabic and English have various and numerous errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation. In Arabic emails, spelling is a major factor, while punctuation errors are highest in English emails. Some English emails have sentences that lack linking verbs and sentences with problems in the article system. L1 interference is a major factor here. As for Arabic, some students wrote sentences where English structures supersede Arabic sentence structure. Students wrote sentences (S+V), when the normal structure should be (V+S). More importantly, some of the errors come from the email genre or students’ sacrificing formalities and protocols for the sake for speed and convenience. Chat language and online communication are factors, too.
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