Phonological Facilitation and Interference; the Case of English and Ibibio Language

Phonological Facilitation and Interference; the Case of English and Ibibio Language

Abstract

The aim of this study was to research into the phonological facilitation and interference, the case of English and Ibibio language. Two (2) research questions was formulated to guide this study. The design was administration of oral test (reading passage) as a source of data in the study to find out difficulties in the pronunciation of English consonants vowels and diphthongs. The population consisted of three (3) senatorial districts in Akwa Ibom State and a total of 652 students were estimated as the population.

A sample size of one hundred and twenty (120) students were sample using simple random sampling technique. Phonological facilitation and interference, a case of English and Ibibio language questionnaire (PFIEI) was used as an instrument. Simple percentage was the statistical method used for the analysis of data. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that teachers should pay attention to the method of the structure of L1 that is possibly going to interfere and also effort should be made for students to listen to native speaker speech.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

Colonialism and missionary in the eighteen century brought English Language in their trial and since then most Nigerian have become bilingual. Bilingual as used in the context is refers to contact in convergence between two different languages of culture resulting in a sociological situation were in the same individuals learns the element from a linguistic or cultural system other than his/her native system. Ibibio learners and user of English (Like all others who are in this second language situation) encounter problems which may be phonological, syntactic, semantic or morphology.

Really, the feedback from the production of our school system as observed by Ekah (2005: 4-5) shows that the Nigerian child lacks worth and dignity as long as he cannot use the instruments of his Education to influence in the positive direction in the society in which he/she lives. Ekah (2005) stressed, rather than a clear-evidence is the ungrammatical English spoken by most Nigerians in the midst of experts in the language.

The Errors arise from the fact that Nigerian blessed with a multiplicity of ethnic group, each with a clear distinguishable system of communication. The number of language spoken by these ethnic groups is uncertain, hence, Nigeria is said to be multi-lingual nation. This research study shall conduct a comparative study on the phonological facilitation and interference; the case of English and Ibibio language.

Recently, claims have been outrageous over the ways English language is handled in Africa. Milieu (Environment). Besides, the status of English in Nigeria as an official language, and a medium of instruction in schools and colleges, brings up challenges regarding how it is handled in our schools by the learners. It is disheartening and pathetic as the pronunciation of English words has been subjected to all forms of disformation and reckless attention.

The researcher as earlier discussed is concerned with examine a comparative study on phonological facilitation and interference, in English by its users as a second language [examples, Ibibio speakers and learners of English].

1.2     Statement of the Problem

The problem of this study is that some Ibibio and English bilinguals are likely to encounter problems like semantic, syntactic phonological or morphological when speaking English. English and Ibibio share more areas of dissimilarities than similarities and this can cause learning difficulties. Example, the dental fricatives /Ɵ/ and /ð/ are sometime realized as /t/ and /d/; the voiced alveolar fricative /z/ tends to be realized as /s/ by Ibibio learners of English at the early stages.

Contrastive analysis hypothesis emphasizes that when two languages differ in their structure we expect cases of interference but when they are similar in structure we expect facilitation in the learning. Most Ibibio native speakers of English falter in areas were facilitation and learning is expected while other area will expect cases in interference.

1.3     Purpose of the Study

The basic purpose of this study was to investigate the phonological facilitation and interference in the learning of English by Ibibio native speakers.

Specifically, the study sought to:

1. Identify areas of facilitation and areas of interference between English and Ibibio.
2. Examine Ibibio native speakers performance in English, in the area of facilitation.
3. Examine Ibibio native speakers performance in English, in the area of interference.
4. Make judgement on Ibibio native speakers performance in English in the area of interference.
5. Propound theories on the outcome.

1.4     Research Questions

The following research questions was formulated to guide this study.

1. To what extent does hyper correction influence interference and facilitation on articulation of English sounds?
2. To what extent does generalization of the Ibibio sound structure pattern influence facilitation and interference in the articulation in English sounds?

1.5     Significance of the Study

This study shall be of a good significance to the students of English and most for those studying linguistic in the university and college of education. It shall also serve as a good source of information for those in English department in their ENG 211 (Structure of English), curriculum planners will also find this study very useful while screening courses in English language for those in institution of higher learning, pre-primary and primary education.

1.6     Limitation of the Scope

In order to make an in-depth study and analysis, the study has a limitation scope. First as the topic suggest “phonological facilitation and interference the case of English and Ibibio language”, the research will be strictly between on English and Ibibio language.

1.7     Delimitation of the Study

This work will collect information from textbooks, the research will be carried out based on the spoken English of educated people, written sources, linguistic evidence and views held by other people.

It will shows the relationship between phonological facilitation and interference. It will analyse the morphological and syntactic process of English and Ibibio grammar and show how relevant they are in making the learners attain a higher level of linguistic competence. It will also go further to state recommendations after the study.