Slips of the Tongue in International Student Presentation: A Case

Study at International Student Forum

Sarah Diena Ismail

, Bagus Detrianto

, Syafiyah

and Galuh Nur Rohmah

Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang

Keywords: International student, international student forum, slips of the tongue.

Abstract: The phenomenon of slips of the tongue can be observed in the presentations from international

students at the International Student Forum. There are three speakers from different countries

who were selected to be the research subjects due to several provided criteria. This research was

conducted in order to observe, analyze, and identify the types of slips of the tongue that the

international students produce, the possible factors which cause the slips of the tongue, and the

possible strategies used by the speakers to overcome the slips of the tongue in International

Student Forum. This research employed a descriptive qualitative approach in order to know the

linguistic phenomena happened in the International Student Forum through psycholinguistic

point of view. The result of the discussion reports that there are only four out of eight types that

were commonly occurred during the International Student Forum and the most commonly

produced type of slips of the tongue from all speakers is a Substitutions. Moreover, the factor

which may influence the speaker is cognitive difficulty, the possible factor which caused the

production of slips of the tongue is situational anxiety and social factor. Furthermore, this

research investigated the strategies used by the speakers as well to overcome slips of the tongue

while they were transferring the topic.

1 INTRODUCTION

The study of language covers four basic

skills in particular language; speaking, listening,

writing, and reading. According to Field (2004),

speaking is one of the most complex cognitive

operations in English that are performed by non-

native English speakers. In practicing English as a

foreign language, speaking is one of the important

skills that the learners must learn (Field, 2004). This

language is used almost everywhere and many

aspects such as literature, education, science, and

technology since this is a very effective and a

straight-forward language. Speaking is one of the

communication means to express our ideas or

opinion. Speaking is definitely crucial because to be

able to function in another language is characterized

by being able to use that language in an oral

communication (Nunan, 1991). Besides, the success

of language learning is determined by being able to

use that language in real communication. As

(Rahardjo, 2004) states that people always try to get

mutual understanding in doing communication. It is

because bad communication can lead to a complete

breakdown in relationship, and causing

misunderstanding which often leads to a conflict

between elements in social structure. Further, in

order to have smooth communication, people should

follow the language rules (Detrianto, 2018). In other

words, people are going to be categorized as good

English speakers from the way they produce correct

grammar, appropriate vocabulary, and exact

pronunciation. This research aimed to discuss one of

the topics in Psycholinguistics, which is Language

Production. In order to understand a correct way to

produce and practice foreign language, we should

first take a look into the errors so that there is no

repetition in practicing this language incorrectly.

However, people get some difficulties in practicing

English as second language. Therefore, mistakes are

often found. It is usually found in spontaneous

speech which has the result in failure (Altıparmak

and Kuruoğlu, 2018). Speech errors happen when

sounds or entire words are rearranged between two

or more different words. Speech error is non-

intentional slip relative to the utterance intended by

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Diena Ismail, S., Detrianto, B., Syaﬁyah, . and Nur Rohmah, G.

Slips of the Tongue in International Student Presentation: A Case Study at International Student Forum.

DOI: 10.5220/0009913328862891

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Recent Innovations (ICRI 2018), pages 2886-2891

ISBN: 978-989-758-458-9

speaker (Gompei and Umemuro, 2015). The most

speech error is slips of the tongue. The rate of

tongue slips protrusion was influenced by both

motor and language syntax (Forrester and

Rodriguez, 2015). Further, Text imitating orally may

present a lapsus linguae (slip of the tongue) by way

of reported speech, possibly later corrected by

writing presented as a conscious modification of the

spontaneity of the original word (Brancher, 2016;

Ovchinnikova and Pavlova, 2017).

This subjective research will explore the dialect

generation which worried on slips of the tongue in

the International Student Forum that are created by

Indonesian, Singaporean, and Libyan understudies in

Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim

Malang. The scientists picked International Student

Forum that was directed in May, twelfth 2017 as the

zone to gather the information since the speakers are

the worldwide understudies from Indonesia,

Singapore, Philippine, Libya, and Russia. The

scientists concentrated on investigating and

distinguishing the slips of the tongue happens in

English as their second dialect. Universal Student

Forum is masterminded by the Faculty of

Humanities as a piece of the exercises program to

combine propelled involvement among nations on

the planet. The fundamental reason for existing is

identified with the subject "Issues on Humanities for

Community Advancement". Moreover, this is the

gathering for the understudies to impart thoughts and

insights about issues identified with dialect, writing,

and different perspectives in life from a few

countries.

In this examination, the analysts focussed on the

kinds of slips of the tongue create and generally

deliver by the majority of the global understudies

and the conceivable elements which cause the slips

of the tongue in International Student Forum. In this

examination, the scientists will utilize the

speculations which were proposed by Fromkin

(1973) around eight sorts of slips of the tongue,

those are: Anticipations, Preservations, Reversals or

Exchange, Blends or Haplologies, Misderivations or

Shifts, Substitutions, Additions, and Deletions.

Further, the analysts likewise use hypothesis

proposed by Clark (1977) about the variables which

impacted the slips of the tongue. Subsequently, the

scientists attempt to see what the conceivable

variables which cause the slips of the tongue are.

Along these lines, by watching the marvel of slips of

the tongue in International Student Forum, the

analysts are relied upon to discover sorts of slips of

the tongue which may happen in International

Student Forum and to uncover the conceivable

elements which may influence slips of the tongue.

Thus, the researchers will be able to find the

possible solutions to overcome slips of the tongue.

Further, if second language learners know about the

false, they will not make the same mistake (Popper,

1934).

2 METHOD

This exploration connected a clear subjective

methodology so as to know the etymology marvels

occurred in International Student Forum in May,

twelfth, 2017 through psycholinguistics perspective.

It is utilized since the information are gathered as

words and expressions. Subjective research is a

methods for investigating and understanding the

importance people or gatherings portray to a social

or human issue (George, 2008; Creswell, 2009;

Fitriana, 2018). This exploration endeavors to

portray the discourse generation which worries on

slips of the tongue in the International Student

Forum that are introduced by Indonesian,

Singaporean, and Libyan understudies at Universitas

Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang.

What's more, the scientists concentrated on the kinds

of slips of the tongue delivered and for the most part

created. Another center was the conceivable

variables which cause the slips of the tongue in

International Student Forum which were found in

Indonesian, Singaporean, and Libyan understudy.

Though, alternate spotlight was on how the speakers'

methodologies to defeat the slips of the tongue when

they did it. In distinguishing and examining the

information, the specialists take the accompanying

strategies. Right off the bat, gathering the

information by utilizing sound chronicle for every

moderator in International Student Forum.

Furthermore, taking pictures for every moderator

who introduced their papers. After that

distinguishing the expressions which contain slips of

the tongue. Finally, applying the hypothesis

proposed by Fromkin hypothesis (1973) around

eight sorts of slips of the tongue and Clark

hypothesis (1977) about the components which

impacted the slips of the tongue so as to recognize

and examine the information. Furthermore, the

worldview which the specialists deal with is

Pragmatism, since this exploration attempted to give

arrangement from the current issue which is

discourse blunder in dialect creation.

Slips of the Tongue in International Student Presentation: A Case Study at International Student Forum

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3 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The other sort of discourse mistake is usually

depicted as an error of tongue. An error of tongue is

when speaker begins to speak to the sentence at the

sound dimension (Dell, 1986). When you are getting

ready to state words you initiate the hints of the

words you need to state and once in a while a

comparable sound is actuated and said rather than

the right stable. Furthermore, the normal slips of

tongue generally found are; Anticipations happen in

the perfect place and prior in the expression. A unit

happens when a letter fragment replaces a prior

portion. A few things made arrangements for before

in the articulation is foreseen and impacts a unit got

ready for before in the expression. They vary from

movements in that meddles with another likewise

stays in its right area and consequently is utilized

twice (Carroll, 1994). For instance: Take my bicycle

 prepare my bicycle. Further, Perseverations

happen in a prior fragment replaces a later things or

it comes after the inception. It implies that some

semantics units got ready for and executed before in

the articulation perseverates and impacts a unit got

ready for later in the expression (Jaeger, 2004). For

instance: He pulled a fit of rage  he pulled a

pantrum. In inversions, two sections are traded thus

the birthplace of one blunder is the objective for the

other. These mistakes are otherwise called

spoonerism. As indicated by Carrol (1994), trades

are, basically, twofold moves, in which two

semantics units trade places. For instance: Katz and

Fodor  Fats and Kodor. Another sort is Blends or

Haplologies, there are two etymology units that are

consolidated into one thing. As Carrol (1994) point

out that mixes clearly happens when more than

single word is being considered and the two

proposed things breaker or mix into a solitary thing.

For instance: The kids + youthful of today  the

chung of today. Chung originates from the kids and

youthful. Further, Misderivations are one discourse

section vanishes from its proper activity and shows

up elsewhere. It very well may be happened when

the speaker by one way or another joins the wrong

postfix or prefix to the word. For instance: That's so

will be prepared on the off chance that she choose to

hits it  chooses to hit it. Another is Substitutions,

happen when one fragment is supplanted by an

interloper and vary from recently depicted slips in

that the wellspring of the interruption may not be in

the sentence. For instance: Before the place opens 

before the place close. In word substitutions, the

speakers make a word that isn't right, yet commonly

related either semantically or phonologically to the

word expected (Fromkin, 1973; Clark and Clark,

1977). Another sort is Additions, is an extra

phonetic material. The speaker planned to absolute

the proposed articulation, once in a while he/she

includes semantics material in his/her expected

expression which moves toward becoming slips. It is

normally identified with phonemes, morphemic

attaches, articles, relational words, conjunctions,

entire words, or even expressions. For instance: I

didn't clarify this cautiously enough  cautiously.

Other sort is Deletion is though forget something.

The speakers needed to absolute the planned

sentences, yet by chance he/she forgets phonetics

material. It tends to be ordinarily identified with

phonemes, morphemic fastens, articles, relational

words, conjunctions, entire words, or even say

his/her proposed expression. For instance: The child

sees firecrackers  the infant see firecrackers (the

fasten cancellation).

There are some previous studies which have been

done by previous researchers. The first previous

study was conducted by Moh. Ali Imron Mustofa

and Enni Akhmad. In their research, they put the

focus on identifying the slip of the tongue in EFL

Classroom: One error that bloked students’ fluency

in speaking (Daud and Mustofa, 2018). However,

this research aimed to observe about the slips of the

tongue in the international student forum. Therefore,

this research is different from the first previous

study. Another previous study was conducted by

Meida Fitriana. The researcher put the focus on slips

of the tongue in speech production of Indonesia

State Officials: A Psycholinguistics Study (Fitriana,

2018). However, this research remains the gaps on

that previous study. Different form the previous

study, this research put the focus on the academic

context, especially for the international student when

they did the presentation in international student

forum. Another previous study was conducted by

Detrianto. The researcher put the focus on the study

of slips of tongue in English classroom presentation

produced by Thai and Libyan students at English

language and letters department (Detrianto, 2017).

However, the are some differences from this

research and the previous study. In the previous

research, the researcher did the observation in the

classroom, however, this research focussed on

international student presentation. In addition, from

those previous studies, there are no yet

investigations about the possible strategies to

overcome the problems related to the slips of tongue.

Therefore, this research is able to fulfil the gap from

the previous studies. Finally, by considering those

differences and significances, the study of

psycholinguistics entitled “Slips of the Tongue in

Asian Students Presentation: A Case Study at the

International Student Forum” is obviously worth-

doing.

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4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The researchers pointed out that there are 6

sentences from Speaker 1, 3 sentences from Speaker

2, and 18 sentences from Speaker 3 which every

sentence may consist of one or even more slips of

the tongue. The total number of slips of the tongue

produced by Speaker 1 from the whole data is 7

which consist of 1 Additions, 5 Substitutions, and 1

Deletions. On the other hand, Speaker 2 produced

the least slips of the tongue with the total number

from the whole data is only 3 types. They consist of

1 Substitutions, 1 Deletions, and 1 Anticipations.

Furthermore, Speaker 3 produced the most numbers

of slips of the tongue which consist of 10 Additions,

7 Substitutions, 7 Deletions, and 1 Anticipations. To

sum up, we can see the table below.

Types S1 S2 S3 Total

Additions 1 - 10 11

Substitutions 5 1 7 13

Deletions 1 1 7 9

Anticipations - 1 1 2

With regard of aforementioned rationale, the

researchers may conclude that from 8 types of slips

of the tongue which were proposed by Fromkin

(1973), there are only 4 types that were commonly

occurred during the International Student Forum

which was conducted in May, 12

2017 and the

most commonly produced type of slips of the tongue

from all speakers is a Substitutions followed by

Additions, Deletions, and Anticipations. In addition,

to answer Research Question 2 and 3, the

researchers provide an open-questionnaire for the

whole subjects to reach the most perfect

comprehension related to this area which later on

will lead the researchers to explore and analyze the

problems clearly, correctly, and deeply. Thus, the

data from the questionnaire will guide the

researchers to comprehend deeper about the possible

factors which may influence slips of the tongue for

the selected participants in International Student

Forum. Furthermore, the researchers used the theory

proposed by Clark (1977) about three possible

factors, those are; social factor, cognitive difficulty,

and situational anxiety.

The result from the discussion showed that the

possible factor which might influence slips of the

tongue for Speaker 1 is cognitive difficulty. Since the

Speaker 1 found it hard to articulate the abstract

words rather than concrete words, even if the

speaker did not really have any difficulties in

presenting the ideas in front of lots of people due to

the experience. On the other hand, the possible

factor which influences the production of slips of the

tongue for Speaker 2 is situational anxiety. Due to

the fact that even it was not the first time the speaker

presented something in English language and in

front of lots of people, in fact she felt nervous. Thus,

that feeling might come due to the lack of

preparation since she only had a preparation an hour

before the presentation in International Student

Forum. At last, the possible factor for Speaker 3 is

social factor. It occurs since it was the first time the

speaker presented the ideas in front of lots of people

and used English language which is not the

speaker’s mother tongue. It was supported by the

data that another factor is because Speaker 3 did not

have enough time to take a rest a day before the

forum. Therefore, the speaker produced many slips

of the tongue rather than the other two research

participants (Speaker 1 and Speaker 2).

In this research, the researchers do not only

observe and analyze the types and possible factors of

slips of the tongue produced by all of the research

participants, yet the researchers provide alternative

ways to avoid and overcome slips of tongue for

other scholars or students based on the data we got

from all the research participants as well. The result

from the discussion showed that the speaker 1 kept

moving on, focusing on the following sentences to

overcome the slips of the tongue. Therefore, the

speaker will not repeat the same mistakes in the

following sentences. On the other hand, the Speaker

2 repeated the words which contained slips of the

tongue in order to make the audience understand

more about what the speaker’s intention. Therefore,

even there are slips of the tongue in the speech, it

will not bring misunderstanding for the audience.

Furthermore, the speaker will also realize that the

slips of the tongue should be repeated in the

following sentence. At last, the Speaker 3 kept

moving forward as what Speaker 1 did to overcome

slips of the tongue. The researchers may conclude

that whenever Speaker 3 realized that the speaker

produced incorrect word(s) in the speech, the

speaker would be aware not to make the same

mistakes in the following sentences. Thus, from

those three speakers, the strategies which was

mostly used by the speaker was kept moving

forward when they made a mistakes (slips of the

tongue) in their utterances, while focusing on the

following sentences in order to avoid the same

mistakes.

Slips of the Tongue in International Student Presentation: A Case Study at International Student Forum

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5 CONCLUSION

Based on the findings and discussion from findings

and discussion above, the researchers may conclude

that there are several types of slips of the tongue

which produced during International Student Forum

which was conducted by Humanities Faculty in

May, 12

2017. The total number of slips of the

tongue produced by Speaker 1 from the whole data

is 7 which consist of 1 Additions, 5 Substitutions,

and 1 Deletions. On the other hand, Speaker 2

produced the least slips of the tongue with the total

number from the whole data is only 3 types. They

consist of 1 Substitutions, 1 Deletions, and 1

Anticipations. Furthermore, Speaker 3 produced the

most numbers of slips of the tongue which consist of

10 Additions, 7 Substitutions, 7 Deletions, and 1

Anticipations. Briefly, the researchers may conclude

that from 8 types of slips of the tongue which were

proposed by Fromkin (1973), there are only 4 types

that were commonly occurred during the

International Student Forum which was conducted in

May, 12

2017 and the most commonly produced

type of slips of the tongue from all speakers is a

Substitutions with the total number 13 data then

followed by Additions, Deletions, and Anticipations.

Slips of the tongue that were produced by

the whole speakers are caused by several factors;

social factor, cognitive difficulty, and situational

anxiety. According to the possible factors that may

influence slips of the tongue proposed by Clark

(1977), the researchers now may decide that the

factor which may influence Speaker 1 is cognitive

difficulty. Since the Speaker 1 found it hard to

articulate the abstract words rather than concrete

words, even if the speaker did not really have any

difficulties in presenting the ideas in front of lots of

people due to the experience. On the other hand, the

possible factor which caused the production of slips

of the tongue for Speaker 2 is situational anxiety.

Since it was not the first time for Speaker 2 to

present something in English language and in front

of lots of people, yet, in answering another question

the speaker stated that the speaker felt nervous. The

feeling of nervous and anxiety might come due to

the lack of preparation since the speaker only had a

preparation an hour before the presentation in

International Student Forum. At last, the possible

factor for Speaker 3 is social factor. It occurs since it

was the first time the speaker presented the ideas in

front of lots of people and used English language

which is not the speaker’s mother tongue. It was

supported by another factor that Speaker 3 did not

have enough time to take a rest a day before the

forum. Therefore, the speaker produced many slips

of the tongue rather than the other two research

participants (Speaker 1 and Speaker 2).

In addition, this research is not only investigating

the types and factors only, yet providing some

strategies used by the speakers to overcome slips of

the tongue while they were presenting particular

topics at international forum. Firstly, Speaker 1 kept

moving on and focusing on the following sentences

to overcome the slips of the tongue. Therefore, the

speaker will not repeat the same mistakes in the

following sentences. Secondly, Speaker 2 repeated

the words which contained slips of the tongue in

order to make the audience understand more about

what the speaker’s intention. Therefore, even there

are slips of the tongue in the speech, it will not bring

misunderstanding for the audience. Lastly, Speaker

3 kept moving forward as what Speaker 1 did to

overcome slips of the tongue. The researchers may

conclude that whenever Speaker 3 realized that the

speaker produced incorrect word(s) in the speech,

the speaker would be aware not to make the same

mistakes in the following sentences. Briefly, 2 of 3

research subjects used the strategy of keep moving

forward and continue the discussion to overcome

slips of the tongue.

After investigating the case of slips of the

tongue, the researchers have learned about several

theories and empirical consideration related to this

area. As the students focusing on Linguistics, the

researchers also learn types found, factors caused,

and strategies used to overcome slips of the tongue

in International student presentation at International

Students Forum. Last but not least, conducting the

research in this area is definitely reinforcing and

enhancing the researchers’ personal knowledge and

experience. Hopefully, this research will also

beneficially useful for the readers.

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