Effects of Mother Tongue Interference among Yoruba Students on Spoken English in Igbeti, Oyo State.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE---------------------------------------------------------------------------------i

DECLARATION----------------------------------------------------------------------------ii 

DEDICATION------------------------------------------------------------------------------iii

CERTIFICATION-------------------------------------------------------------------------iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMETS-----------------------------------------------------------------v

TABLE OF CONTENTS----------------------------------------------------------------vii

ABSTRACT----------------------------------------------------------------------------------x

CHAPTER ONE:INTRODUCTION

1.1Background of the Study-------------------------------------------------------------1

1.2Statement of the Problem------------------------------------------------------------5

1.3Purpose of the Study------------------------------------------------------------------7

1.4Research Questions-------------------------------------------------------------------7

1.5Significance of the Study------------------------------------------------------------8

1.6Delimitation of the Study------------------------------------------------------------9

1.7Definition of Terms-------------------------------------------------------------------9

CHAPTER TWO:REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.0Introduction--------------------------------------------------------------------------11

2.1Differences between Spoken Language and Written language--------------12

2.2Meaning of Language Acquisition-----------------------------------------------13

2.3Theories of Language Acquisition-----------------------------------------------14

2.4Meaning of Mother Tongue (MT)-----------------------------------------------17

2.5Second Language (L2/SL)--------------------------------------------------------18

2.6Second Language and Proficiency----------------------------------------------19

2.7Mother Tongue Interference on English Language Pronunciation-------20

2.8.1Language Contact----------------------------------------------------------------23

2.8.2Effect of One Language on Another when Contacted----------------------23

2.9Pronunciation----------------------------------------------------------------------26

2.10.1Sound Systems of English Language------------------------------------------28

2.10.2Distinctive Features of Phonemes----------------------------------------------29

2.11National Language Policy Requirement in Our Schools-------------------34

2.12English Language in Nigeria-------------------------------------------------------35

2.13Phonological Variation of Yoruba Spoken in Igbeti--------------------------36

2.14Pronunciation Model of English in a Second Language Situation---------39

2.15Pronunciation Features of Yoruba in Learning English---------------------40

2.16Cause of Linguistic Interference-------------------------------------------------41

2.17.1Contrastive Analysis of English and Yoruba Phonemes---------------------43

2.17.2English Vowels---------------------------------------------------------------------68

2.17. 3Yoruba Vowels--------------------------------------------------------------------70

2.17.4English Language Consonant System-----------------------------------------72

2.17.5English Consonants Chart-------------------------------------------------------74

2.17.6Yoruba Language Consonant System-----------------------------------------75

2.17.7Yoruba Consonants Chart-------------------------------------------------------77

2.18Teaching English Pronunciation for Intelligibility----------------------------78

2.19Summary-----------------------------------------------------------------------------79

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1Introduction-------------------------------------------------------------------------81

3.2Research Design---------------------------------------------------------------------81

3.3Population----------------------------------------------------------------------------81

3.4Sample Size and Sampling Techniques------------------------------------------82

3.5Procedure for Data Presentation --------------------------------------------------82

3.6Data Collection Instrument -------------------------------------------------------83

3.7Method of Data Analysis-----------------------------------------------------------84

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA INTERPRETATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS

4.1Introduction--------------------------------------------------------------------------85

4.2Analysis on Respondents’ Qualification, Work Experience and Sex-----s-85

4.3Analysis of Teachers Questionnaire--------------------------------------------87

4.4Analysis of Students Questionnaire--------------------------------------------92

4.5Discussion of Findings------------------------------------------------------------97

CHAPTER FIVE:SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1Introduction--------------------------------------------------------------------------99

5.2Summary-----------------------------------------------------------------------------99

5.3Conclusion-------------------------------------------------------------------------102

5.4Recommendations-----------------------------------------------------------------104

5.5Suggestion for further Studies----------------------------------------------------107

REFERENCES---------------------------------------------------------------------------108

APPENDICES----------------------------------------------------------------------------112

ABSTRACT

The study is designed to examine the effects of mother tongue interference among Yoruba students on spoken English at Junior Secondary Schools using four secondary schools in Igbeti, Oyo State. The study investigated how Yoruba language has interfered with English language at phonological level among Junior Secondary School students in Igbeti. Consequently, questionnaire and observation techniques were adopted to carry out this investigation. Two questionnaires were designed; one for the teachers and one for the students. Each questionnaire contained ten questions giving total number of twenty questions administered to ten teachers and sixty students at the four secondary schools in Igeti Olorunsogo Local Government Area in Oyo State making total number of seventy respondents to this study. Using simple percentage descriptive statistics, the questionnaires were presented in tables, analyzed and interpreted. The findings reveal extent to which Yoruba language has interfered with English language at phonological levels and some factors which are responsible for this phenomenon such as; language background of the students, lack of motivation from teachers and parents for students to articulate English words correctly, lack of language laboratory and teaching overcrowded classes. Measures that could be taken to enhance students’ improvement at phonology level of English language are also suggested. The students’ age selected for this study ranged between 11-17 years. The participants were those who have not written the Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination and they were randomly selected across diverse religious existing in Igbeti.