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Error Analysis of Word Order in Mandarin Sentences by Beginner Learners: A Case Study of First-Year Students at The State University of Makassar

Longda Xiaokan: Journal of Mandarin Learning and Teaching · Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026) · pp. 51–59

DOI
10.15294/longdaxiaokan.v9i1.49013
ISSN
2715-1611, 2528-5734
Published
2026-06-09
Publisher
Universitas Negeri Semarang
Language
eng

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the types and frequency of word order errors in Mandarin sentences made by beginner learners. The data were obtained from written tests completed by 17 first-year students of the Mandarin Language Education Study Program at the State University of Makassar. The test consisted of 10 questions in two formats: (1) arranging scrambled words into grammatically correct sentences, and (2) translating Indonesian sentences into Mandarin. The results indicate that word order errors primarily occurred in five aspects, namely: (1) the placement of temporal adverbs, frequency adverbs, and interrogative words; (2) the position of resultative/aspectual complements; (3) the order of serial verbs; (4) the use of degree adverbs; and (5) the structure of numerals with classifiers. These errors were attributed to interference from the more flexible word order of the Indonesian language, as well as the students' insufficient understanding of Mandarin syntactic rules. These findings highlight the need for a systematic emphasis on learning sentence structures. The implications of this research are expected to serve as a foundation for formulating more effective teaching strategies for Mandarin sentence patterns for beginner learners.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

31 authors · 56 co-authorship links

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  • Universitas Muhammadiyah Enrekang
  • Affiliation unknown
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  • Same organisation
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Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Dian Yuni PamujiAffiliation unknown6
Almira AgwinandaAffiliation unknown5
Mirah AzizahAffiliation unknown4
Sheyra Silvia SiregarAffiliation unknown4
Hasria RiskiAffiliation unknown2
Fatmawati FatmawatiAffiliation unknown1
Vitrianti Della ParmawatiAffiliation unknown1
Fatmawati FatmawatiAffiliation unknown1
Wastri PebrianiAffiliation unknown1
Fatmawati FatmawatiAffiliation unknown1
Hukmawati HukmawatiAffiliation unknown1
Kezia Yansen PasangAffiliation unknown1
SukmaAffiliation unknown1
Andi Filsah MuslimatAffiliation unknown1
Sheyla Silvia SiregarAffiliation unknown1
Ayudhia Ratna WijayaAffiliation unknown1
Elvira SeptevanyAffiliation unknown1
Dian Sari Unga WaruAffiliation unknown1
Fatmawati FatmawatiAffiliation unknown1
Laeli FajriyahAffiliation unknown1
Pratama Priya PambudiAffiliation unknown1
Ridwan ListiantoAffiliation unknown1
Sheila Maharani Tofina PutriAffiliation unknown1
Ajeng Mutiara ChahyaningtyasAffiliation unknown1
Ita Sarmita SamadUniversitas Muhammadiyah Enrekang1
Hasria Riski SAffiliation unknown1
R.M.P.P. RathnayakeAffiliation unknown1
Darmawati DarmawatiAffiliation unknown1
Laelah AzizahAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/longdaxiaokan/oai, first harvested 6 Nov 2026, last seen 6 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Error Analysis of Word Order in Mandarin Sentences by Beginner Learners: A Case Study of First-Year Students at The State University of Makassar</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Nahnu, Asmuliyati</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Marsuki, Ria Riski</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">error analysis; word order; Chinese language</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">This study aims to analyze the types and frequency of word order errors in Mandarin sentences made by beginner learners. The data were obtained from written tests completed by 17 first-year students of the Mandarin Language Education Study Program at the State University of Makassar. The test consisted of 10 questions in two formats: (1) arranging scrambled words into grammatically correct sentences, and (2) translating Indonesian sentences into Mandarin. The results indicate that word order errors primarily occurred in five aspects, namely: (1) the placement of temporal adverbs, frequency adverbs, and interrogative words; (2) the position of resultative/aspectual complements; (3) the order of serial verbs; (4) the use of degree adverbs; and (5) the structure of numerals with classifiers. These errors were attributed to interference from the more flexible word order of the Indonesian language, as well as the students' insufficient understanding of Mandarin syntactic rules. These findings highlight the need for a systematic emphasis on learning sentence structures. The implications of this research are expected to serve as a foundation for formulating more effective teaching strategies for Mandarin sentence patterns for beginner learners. </dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Universitas Negeri Semarang</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-06-09</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:type xml:lang="en">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/longdaxiaokan/article/view/49013</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.15294/longdaxiaokan.v9i1.49013</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Longda Xiaokan: Journal of Mandarin Learning and Teaching; Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026); 51-59</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2715-1611</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2528-5734</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.15294/longdaxiaokan.v9i1</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/longdaxiaokan/article/view/49013/9791</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2026 Longda Xiaokan: Journal of Mandarin Learning and Teaching</dc:rights>
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