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The Linguistic Features of English and Indonesian Essays Made by Efl Undergraduate Students

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The Linguistic Features of English and Indonesian Essays Made by Efl Undergraduate Students
THE LINGUISTIC FEATURES OF ENGLISH AND INDONESIAN ESSAYS MADE BY EFL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Teguh Budiharso

Abstract: Linguistic features of English and Indonesian essays made by EFL (English as Foreign Language) undergraduate students were analyzed by using content analysis. The objective was to identify the similarities and differences in sentence complexity, grammar, and mechanics of the essays. Errors in the forms of incomplete sentences, run-on and stringy sentences were found as well as grammatical and mechanical errors. The results showed that in the area of grammar, the essays indicated that the students had more proficiency on their first language (L1), but relatively poor on their second language (L2). More grammatical errors were found in English essays, whereas more mechanical errors were found in Indonesian essays. The research showed that the students had not sufficient English mastery in performing a scholarly writing. Key words: linguistic features, sentence complexity, grammar, mechanics, academic writing.

Linguistic features refer to the use of sentence construction, grammar, and mechanical aspects of writing. A text with good linguistic features uses characteristics of language of science. The text conveys statement that is accurate and exact, supporting the logic of the statement. The use of proper sentence structure and precise vocabulary help reader identify proposition in the text more readily. Linguistic features in this study are identified through the use of sentence complexity, that is, simple sentences, complex sentences, and compound sentences; the use of grammar and mechanics in English and Indonesian essays.
Teguh Budiharso adalah dosen Universitas Mulawarman, Samarinda

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BAHASA DAN SENI, Tahun 34, Nomor 1, Februari 2006

The linguistics features of this study rely on theories of English academic writing. The theory mainly focuses on the syntactic and mechanic quality of writing. Therefore, the essay is


References: Andrew, I.B., and Gardner, R. 1979. Aspects of Composition. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc. Bogdan, R., and Sari K.B. 1992. Qualitative Research for Education. Needham Heights: A Division of Simon & Schuster Inc. Connor, U. 1996. Contrastive Rhetoric: Cross-Cultural Aspects of Second Language Writing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Fraenkel, J.R., and Wallen N.E. 1993. How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc. Hogins, J.B., and Lillard T. 1972. The Structure of Writing. Rowly, Massachusetts: D.C. Heath and Company. Krashen, S.D. 1984. Writing: Research, Theory, and Applications. Oxford: Pergamon Institute of English. Krippendorff, K. 1980. Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology. London: Sage Publications. Latief, M.A. 1990. Assessment of English Writing Skills for Students of English as a Second Language at IKIP MALANG Indonesia. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation. Iowa City, Iowa: The University of Iowa. Miles, M., and M. Huberman. 1994. Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcesbook. Beverly Hills: SAGE Publication Inc. Mukminatien, N. 1997. The Differences of Students Writing Achievement Across Different Course Levels. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation. Malang: IKIP MALANG. Oshima, A., and Houge, A. 1991. Writing Academic English: A Writing and Sentence Structure Handbook. Second Edition. Cambridge: AddisonWesley Publishing Company. Raimes, A. 1985. What Unskilled Writers Do as They Write: A Classroom Study of Composing. TESOL QUARTERLY 19(2):229-258. Sabilah, F. 1999. Problems Found and Strategies Used in Essay Writing by the Fifth Semester Students of English Department of Muhammadiyah University of Malang. Master s Thesis. Malang: IKIP MALANG. Budiharso, The Linguistic Features of English and Indonesian Essays 19 academic writing, 1, 2, 4 grammar, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 15, 16, 17 linguistic features, 1, 3, 4, 5 mechanics, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 15, 17 sentence complexity, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 16
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