Which term describes the process by which incorrect language becomes a habit and cannot easily be corrected?

Which term describes the process by which incorrect language becomes a habit and cannot easily be corrected?

• A. Fossilisation
• B. Acquisition
• C. ARC
• D. Affricatives

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is fossilisation in language learning: a stage where incorrect language becomes a fixed habit and is hard to correct. When errors are repeated in useful communication, feedback may not be enough to convince the speaker to stop using them, or the learner may stop noticing the mistake. Over time, these forms become automatic, even in new contexts, making correction difficult. This can affect pronunciation, grammar, or word choice, and it often happens after a plateau in learning when the learner isn’t exposed to enough corrective input or productive practice. This is why fossilisation is the best fit for describing the phenomenon. Acquisition describes natural language development through exposure and use, which isn’t inherently about entrenched errors. The other terms don’t describe a process of errors becoming permanent habits in language use, and one of them refers to a phonetic category rather than a learning process.

The main idea here is fossilisation in language learning: a stage where incorrect language becomes a fixed habit and is hard to correct. When errors are repeated in useful communication, feedback may not be enough to convince the speaker to stop using them, or the learner may stop noticing the mistake. Over time, these forms become automatic, even in new contexts, making correction difficult. This can affect pronunciation, grammar, or word choice, and it often happens after a plateau in learning when the learner isn’t exposed to enough corrective input or productive practice.

This is why fossilisation is the best fit for describing the phenomenon. Acquisition describes natural language development through exposure and use, which isn’t inherently about entrenched errors. The other terms don’t describe a process of errors becoming permanent habits in language use, and one of them refers to a phonetic category rather than a learning process.