In applied linguistics, what term describes the field that collects and assesses learners' errors to analyze what learners get wrong and how to address it in the classroom?

• A. Error analysis
• B. Global error
• C. Pre-systemic error
• D. Passive knowledge

Answer: (A)

Error analysis is the study that systematically collects learners’ language, identifies and classifies the errors, and looks for patterns to show what learners are getting wrong and why. By analyzing these errors, teachers can see gaps in knowledge, inappropriate transfer from the first language, or overgeneralization rules, and then design targeted classroom activities, feedback, and materials to address those gaps. It’s about turning error data into actionable teaching strategies that help learners move toward correct forms.

The other terms don’t describe this collecting-and-analyzing-for-instruction field. Global error isn’t a standard label for a field; pre-systemic error isn’t a recognized category in this context, and passive knowledge refers to what a learner knows but cannot yet use or access fluently, not a practice that analyzes errors to guide teaching.