Syntactical and Punctuation Errors: An Analysis of Technical Writing of University Students Science College, Taif University, KSA

Abstract

Analyzing errors committed by second language learners during their first year of study at the University of Taif, can offer insights and knowledge of the learners’ difficulties in acquiring technical English communication. With reference to the errors analyzed, the researcher found that the learners’ failure to understand basic English grammar could be ascribed to intralingual interference which is associated with the developmental sequence of learning English for technical communication in the form of speaking, listening, reading and writing, rather than to interference of the mother tongue. The results will be of benefit for material development, especially in the provision of materials in the Language Learning Centre.