An algorithm detecting and tracing errors in ICALL systems

Abstract

If a language learner generates grammatical errors, a classical problem for unification-based ICALL systems is the occurrence of inconsistencies with the grammar formalism. To solve this problem, we propose an account that codes errors of learners explicitly. Using a particular extension of classical feature logic (by introducing a designated error feature) it is possible to code errors of the language learner. We will present an algorithm that computes the unification of two feature structures for such an extension. Furthermore some properties of the algorithm and an evaluation will be presented.