Native Speaker Perception versus Writer Intent in Errors in Korean Students Written English Discourse

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine whether native speaker perceptions of understanding can be equated with the writers' intent. This investigation focuses on whether native speaker reader perceptions represent the actual comprehension of the writers' intent so far as errors in English com positions written by Korean students are concerned. The results reveal that a low degree of association exists between the two measures. Therefore the findings indicate that the widespread assumption that native speakers' perceptions of comprehension equal their real understanding of the writers' intent is unwarranted.