CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

Writing is one of those challenging skills in English (Fitria & Pratiwi, 2020), which mastery is possible only when you write properly without spelling errors. Having poor spelling can cause students’ academic performance (Westwood, 2018). Spelling the word correctly is very important, just as important as saying the word correctly in speaking. If we do not spell the English words correctly, perhaps we may not be properly understood.

Spelling is a rule that must be obeyed by language users for order and uniformity, especially in written language. Form order will have implications for the accuracy and clarity of meaning. Incorrect spelling changes the meaning of the sentences.

Spelling rules differ from the rules of grammar. Spelling rules can help us as the learners can spell accurately by giving guidelines on how to make plurals (more than one), how to  add suffixes (such as -ly and -ment) and how to change the form of verbs (for example, by adding -ing), etc. English spelling is not just a matter of spelling A to Z in English. Instead, English spelling involves adding or fusing letters in a word ending in a certain letter.

Spelling is related to the learners’ ability to write a word correctly and accurately. Writing correct and accurate spelling can add the quality of overall writing texts. The study of learners’ spelling errors provides an opportunity for them to understand and facilitate the learners’ spelling difficulties.

It will result in the improvement of learners’ writing and may largely contribute to transforming learners into good writers. Spelling errors commonly attribute to major errors in writing English. Having good spelling skills can develop over time, mainly through practices and experiences (Ott, 2014, p. 24).

According to Benyo (2014), spelling errors cause any sound problems. One of the reasons that spelling is difficult to be learned is related to the correspondence between the word sound and the way to spell it correctly.

Cook (1999) investigated the most common types of spelling errors in the written work of learners of English and the four types of spelling errors which commonly found in the students writing are: 1) omission (leaving a or more letters), 2) substitution (replacing a or more letters with incorrect ones), 3) transposition (reversing the position of a or more letters), and the last is 4) insertion /addition (including a or more letters).

Therefore, the researcher classifies the spelling errors according to Cook’s classification. This statement is supported by Alhaysony (2012) that errors of these types are generally increasing because of insufficient English writing practices. (James, 2013) also supported that error analysis is the process of determining or deciding the incidence, nature, causes, and consequences of unsuccessful language.

Based on the explanation above, the researcher is interested to conduct the research about error analysis, especially spelling error. This research has objective to find out the kind of spelling errors written by the students and to determine the most dominant kind of spelling error written by the students of GHS Buea Rural institution

1.2 Background to the Study

Writing is an important and is essential skill for leaners because, it is a means through which they enhance their creativity and develop critical thinking. Writing specifically important to the leaners as it helps them to perform and excel well in their academics.Forexample, it enables them to write their essays, compossions, letters and other writing assignments.Writing is a method that transfers spoken language in to a language that is been heard to being seen and it is therefore read. Indore to represent spoken language into a written form, a system must be achieved and implemented.

Spelling is the leaner’s ability to write a word correctly. According to the Oxford Dictionary, ‘’It is to say or write the letters of a word in the correct order’’. Writing good and accurate, adds to quality of writing texts. The study of learner’s spelling errors provides an opportunity and a means of facilitating the students or learners spelling difficulties.

Thus, it may result in the improvement of learners writing and may help to transform learners into good writers. Spelling errors leads and attribute to major errors in written English. If learners do not know about the spelling, they cannot write the sentence correctly and will make the reader confused with their word or sentence. Students or learners are therefore expected to have a mastery of the vocabulary in order to avoid wrong spelling of words.

If students know about many vocabularies, the errors will be less than students that knows less vocabulary. Students do misspelled because they are sure the words they spell are correct but in reality, the words are wrong. Even less, students or people that live not using English, they live or study English as their second language, it is difficult for them to know or remember the word unless they are familiar with the word.

In writing, students often do spelling error in their writings. If students know about spelling error, it can make students less in doing spelling error. They will be more careful when writing. To make good spelling in written English, the sound from the utterance (An utterance is a spoken word, a statement or a vocal sound) must be clear, students must have knowledge to write down what the speaker says, to the good utterance, and the good knowledge can be the key to master spelling.

1.3 Research Problem

Haven seen and read books, scripts of students, it was observed that, some words were wrongly spelt, placed and sounded differently from the words of the English language. This is actually a serious problem because they tend not to perform well in their writings and also readers tend not to understand and to give a clear thought to what has been written which leads to misunderstanding and poor performance on the student’s part.

1.4 Scope Of Study

This study shall be carried out in Buea, the South West Region of Cameroon and very specifically among the Form 3 and 4 Students of Government High School Buea Rural (GHS Buea Rural).

1.5 Research Objectives

1. To identify the common spelling errors committed by the students in their writing
2. To find out the causes that lead to spelling errors and to suggest suitable solutions to the problem.
3. To examine the most frequent errors made by students in their writings.

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