ABSTRACT
Due
to the place of English language in Nigeria, the poor performance of students
in the use of the language is definitely an issue of notional concern.
Therefore, the study was designed to explore the influence of mother tongue
interference in English language among students or Amagu Izzi in Abakaliki
Council Area. This study contains five chapters, chapter one comprises; the
background of the study, the purpose of the study, significance of the study,
scope of the study, and research questions as well as definition of terms.
Chapter two is the literature review, where works of tested scholars were
brought into work.
Chapter three deals on research method, design of the area
with a total population of one hundred teachers. Sample and sampling technique
instrument for data collection, validation, reliability and procedure for data
collection. Chapter four section of this project deals with presentation,
analysis and summary. While the last chapter deals on discussion, conclusion,
recommendation and summary. To test the research questions, sets of
questionnaires were designed for teachers who were randomly selected from the secondary
schools. The data collected were analysed and tabulated using sample percentage
relationship. From the analyses it was noted that the English language usage in
the area has a lot of mother tongue interference.
EFFECT OF MOTHER TONGUE INTERFERENCE
IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE AMONG STUDENTS
IN AMAGU IZZI IN ABAKALIKI
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
OF EBONYI STATE
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
LANGUAGE,
FACULTY OF ARTS,
IMO STATE UNIVERSITY, OWERRI
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COMPLETE MATERIAL.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of the problem
1.3 Purpose of the Study
1.4 Scope of the Study
1.5 Significance of the study
1.6 Research questions
1.7 Definition of terms
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Review of Related literature
2.1 The concept of mother tongue
2.2 Historical Background of English Language in Nigeria.
2.3 Summary of Review of Related literature
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research Method
3.1 Design of the Study
3.2 Area of the Study
3.3 Population of the Study
3.4 Sample and Sampling Techniques
3.5 Instrument for Data Collection
3.6 Validity of the Instrument
3.7 Reliability of the Instrument
3.8 Method of Data Collection
3.9 Method of Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Presentation and Data Analysis
4.1 Research Question One
4.2 Research question Two
4.3 Research question Three
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Findings and interpretation of Results
5.1 Interpretation of Results
5.2 Conclusion and Recommendation
5.3 Summary
Reference
Appendix I
Appendix II
Appendix III
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
This research focuses attention on
unveiling the effect of mother tongue interference in English Language. This
implies finding out how far the mother tongue has interfered with the use of
English Language, which could be very negative or positive. By English language
we mean the language of England, used in Britain and in most countries in the
British Commonwealth, the United States of America and some other countries of
the world including Nigeria.
Historically, the advert of the
British colonialist in Nigeria brought about the introduction of English
language in the country. Following this, Nigeria has become one of the African
countries to embrace the use of English for communication. Also the introduction
of western education in the country facilitated and aided the general
acceptance of English language in Nigeria and today in Nigeria, English
language has not only gained prominence but it is dominating other languages in
the country. In fact, it has become the “Lingua Franca” of the country.
Meanwhile, English language has
several stipulated functions and purposes which it serves. This function
includes verbal communication, which encompasses intra-personal communication,
interpersonal communication and mass communication.
Another function is written
communication and personal interaction with other people. It becomes obvious
that with the realization of the functions and purposes of English language it
has been observed that the mother tongue interferes tremendously in the use of
the language.
Mother tongue means the language
that you first learn to speak when you are child. According to Ugwu (2003) “The mother tongue
interferes in English language in two areas that is in the sound and intonation
respectively. He stressed that when one is spoken to through the medium of a
particular language or read what has been printed on paper in a particular
language, he or she only makes meaning out of what he or she has heard or read
if the hearer or reader shares knowledge of the same language with the speaker
or the writer”. On the other hand, it is observed that in our every day
discussion, the voice of the people speaking to us and every our responses
usually go up and down as we combine the vowels and consonants in our
communication. These voice patterns help us to appreciate or disapprove of what
we have heard or spoken. Therefore, these two factors, which make the voice
pattern, reveal meaning of the spoken words to the hearer is the areas where
the mother tongue interferes with English language. Hence, the voice pattern
which is intonation of both the English and mother tongue vary and there is
interference.
It is understood that the major
obstacle in the learning of English by our students is the interference of the
mother tongue which students of Izzi area are not exempted. The interference of
the mother tongue on English could be phonological, lexical and syntactic.
According to Eka, D. (1992) “he states that in terms
of structural influence, every individual mother tongue language produces a
unique effect” Adekunle (1974) states that interference implies;
The rearrangement of patterns that results from the
introduction of foreign element into the more highly structured domains of
language, such as the back of the phonemic system, a large part of the
morphology and syntax, and some area of the vocabulary.
It is therefore believed that interference
phenomenon affects learner’s performance in the target language which is
English. This work is aimed at identifying such area where the students in the
council area with a view of looking at major structural areas of the standard
English such as, apart from the above mentioned phonological interference, we
also have the child being exposed to two language codes, the L1 and the L2,
lack of correlation between spelling and pronunciation, the initial and final
consonant clusters in English, infusion of Izzi dialectal words into English
and lot more pose problem to the children of Izzi council area learning English
language.
As the Izzi students learn and use
English language, they are bound to encounter some problems, there are also the
problems associated with the teaching of English language. The problem of the
students can be categorized into the following interference of mother tongue
into the English language, translation wholesomely from mother tongue to
English language. Omission of some phonemes in Izzi local language that are
found in English language. The tonal nature of Izzi dialect against the time
stressed nature of English language.
It is for the above and other areas
that the researcher is interested in finding out the effect of mother tongue
language in the teaching and learning of English language among students of
Amagu Izzi community in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
1.2 Statement
of the Problem
English language, if properly taught
and mastered could serve as effective and efficient means of communication and
interaction between an individual and the masses. It is expected to be the
official language for communication and interaction among the people, which
will enable them to live together in unit and co-exist harmoniously. We find
out that teaching of English language in the educational institutions today is
expensive and above all inadequate and many setbacks.
However, the problem of learning of
English language and setback purely depends on the lack of the need or
functions of English language in our everyday communication, and also proper
motivation of education policy markers. You cannot teach or learn English
language without basic facilities.
The learners and teachers of English
language are required to be properly motivated and mobilized towards realizing
the basic objective of communication development. To successfully, enhance
better learning and understanding of English language means that the psychology
of the people should be improved and a better communication report will be
enhanced between the teachers and learners of English language respectively.
This could be achieved by overhauling the teaching and learning system of the
language.
It
is therefore, the pre-occupation of this research work to find out how the
mother tongue (Izzi native language) has interfered with English language. And
the effect made so far by the education planners to reverse the trend.
1.3 Purpose
of the study
There are certain functions and
purposes which English language is expected to fulfill in the society. And
these include communication, interaction and unity among people.
Therefore, the purpose of this
research work is to examine the effect and extend to which the mother tongue
has interfered with English language. It will also determine the extent to
which this interference or distortion has affected the students and the public
at large.
It will equally, find out the ways
or means of curbing this effect of interference among secondary school students
in Amagu Izzi Abakaliki Local Government Area.
1.4 Scope
of the Study
The researcher only concentrated on
the following areas:
1. Importance
attached to the teaching and learning of phonology of English.
2. Problems
encountered during the teaching of English language in the area.
3. Teaching
methods that will help the students go closer to the target English.
4. Identifying
peculiar areas of problems posed by Izzi dialect.
In addition, the study will concentrate on selected
secondary schools in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
1.5 Significance
of the Study
The importances of competent ability
in the use of English language especially in students performance in all the
subject in the school system can not be over-emphasize. It is hoped that with
the successful completion of this research, many other researchers will be
encouraged to research on those variables deeply so that the students, parents,
teachers, administrators, curriculum planners as well as ministry of education
will gain from the study.
The study will be useful and will
act as an inducement to the students by helping them to realize their
deficiencies. The suggestions offered in the study will help the students to
adjust and develop interest and aesthetic value for phonetics and phonology and
this in turn will enhances their academic performance. The study will also give
the teachers the opportunity to understand the peculiar areas of problems
within the council area in the teaching and learning of English language.
1.6 Research
Questions
The researcher posed the following three
questions to guide the study.
1. Do the
students use the mother tongue language more than English language in the
school environment?
2. Do
they manifest areas where the mother tongue interferes into the English
language as they speak and write?
3. Can
the introduction of instructional materials reduce the interference of the
mother tongue in spoken English?
1.7 Definition
of terms
Mother Tongues Interference: This occurs when the features of one language tend to
show up in the other language.
Phonology is the study of the sound system of a particular
language. Is the study of human speech sounds with due regard to their
patterning and function in particular language.
Stress is one of the non-segmental features in speech. Some syllables are
said with more force of effort.
Dialect: This is the form of a language that is spoken in one
area with grammar words and pronunciation that may be different from other form
of the same language.
Morphology: This is the forms of words, studied as a branch of linguistics.
Syntax: This means the ways words and phrases are put
together to form sentences in a language the rules of grammar for this compare
morphology.
L1: this means the first language that a child is first exposed to speak
at his or her childhood.
L2: It is the second language learnt by a child.