- Definition : The application of a known rule in an inappropriate context
- Examples : a) the learner who know that "s" is the plural suffix in English and produces sheeps, or b) the learner who knows that -ed is the English past tense marker and says I goed to
- Overgeneralisation is evidence of learning rather than the opposite : it shows the learner has understood the rule though not its limitations.
- Overgeneralisation is a natural part of language acquisition and is also seen in the speech of children learning their L1.
Recommended Reading
Pit Corder, S. Error Analysis and Interlanguage, OUP
