The dynamic nature of interlanguage sentential negation of indonesian efl learners

Abstract

This cross sectional study attempted to provide empirical study on interlanguage sentential negation of Indonesian EFL learners, particularly the dynamic nature viewed from the stages of development and the number of grammatical error types in each stage. The subjects were Indonesian EFL learners, consisting of four groups from different grades. The data were collected through translation test and analyzed using Lightbown & Spada's framework and error analysis framework. The result indicated that the development stages were not in line with Lightbown & Spada, instead they were represented in three stages of development. Its dynamicity was also depicted by the reduction of grammatical error types at each level. The conclusion was that the learners' interlanguage sentential negation was dynamic, developing closer and closer to the target language through three stages. It is suggested that educators not to give pressure to the learners to get things right at the first place. In addition, their instruction should match the learners' stage of development.