Journalartikel

Jahr der Veröffentlichung: 1996

Seiten: 23-36

Zeitschrift: International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching

Bandnummer: 34

Heftnummer: 1

ISSN: 0019-042X

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1515/iral.1996.34.1.23

Verlag: De Gruyter

Abstract: 

This paper focuses on the errors made in lexical verb choice in speech by a small group of advanced learners of English. Of a corpus of 745 total errors 100 consisted of verb choice error (13%). This figure represents types per subject per text (15 texts x 4 subjects). There was considerable recurrence of verbs used erroneously across subjects and texts and almost without exception the verbs involved were high-frequency verbs, first encountered in the early stages of learning English. In most cases, too, the posited target verb was a high-frequency, 'easy' verb. For this reason the explanation that learners are 'overextending' verbs available in their lexicon to compensate for lack of rarer, more 'difficult' or specialised verbs was rejected.

Erroneous uses of 'put', 'go','recognise' and 'take' are scrutinised Although in some cases L1 (German) influence is to be discerned, subjects' problems are more fundamental. In particular they include lack of knowledge of collocational probabilities and restrictions, and confusion as to the semantic boundaries of verbs of deictic movement and apperception, respectively, complicated where these do not map onto the German system neatly in terms of 'translation equivalents'.

It is suggested that teaching at the advanced level should aim not only to increase the word store but also to flesh out the incomplete or 'skeleton' entries which even advanced learners may have for high-frequency verbs.

Harvard-Zitierstil: Lennon, P. (1996) Getting 'easy' verbs wrong at the advanced level, International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 34(1), pp. 23-36. https://doi.org/10.1515/iral.1996.34.1.23

APA-Zitierstil: Lennon, P. (1996). Getting 'easy' verbs wrong at the advanced level. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching. 34(1), 23-36. https://doi.org/10.1515/iral.1996.34.1.23