English vs. Arabic Punctuation: A Comparative Study of Usage, Influence, and Interference Among Libyan Learners

Abstract

This study investigates the use of punctuation marks in English and Arabic through a contrastive analysis and examines the influence of Arabic punctuation conventions on the English writing of Libyan university learners. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative error analysis with quantitative analysis. Data were collected from 30 English essays written by Libyan undergraduate students majoring in English, as well as responses to a structured questionnaire designed to explore learners’ awareness and perceptions of punctuation usage. The analysis focuses on commonly used punctuation marks in both languages, including the full stop, comma, question mark, exclamation mark, colon, semicolon, and quotation marks. The findings reveal significant differences between English and Arabic punctuation systems in terms of form, function, and frequency of use, which contribute to recurrent punctuation errors in learners’ English writing. Common error types include omission, misuse, and overuse of punctuation marks, particularly commas and full stops, often resulting from negative transfer from Arabic. The questionnaire results support the essay analysis, indicating limited learner awareness of English punctuation rules and interference from the first language. The study highlights the importance of explicit instruction in punctuation in EFL contexts and provides pedagogical implications for improving the writing accuracy of Libyan learners.