This paper analyses the use of the word where in texts written by
Malay-speaking learners of English. Data from a learner corpus is compared with data
from two corpora of academic writing by native English-speaker writers. Considerable
over-use of where is found: this is explained as a consequence of various
patterns of misuse of where and non-use of standard forms of relativization
common in written academic English. Suggestions are offered as to (a) the causes of
misuse and (b) teaching strategies for helping students avoid misuse.
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