CHAPTER NINETEEN: MALAPROPISM/THE INTERFERENCE OF MOTHER-TONGUE AMONG THE IGBO SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE: MUSIC AS A MEDIUM IN ENHANCING POSITIVE TRANSFER OF LEARNING
Abstract
This paper investigates the interference of mother-tongue in the pronunciations of some similar English words by some Igbo speakers of English, which Linguists refer to as 'Malapropism'. This is very common among the Igbo indigenes from communities in Aguata, Orumba North and South and Alo in Idemili North of Anambra State, Nigeria. The findings revealed that Igbo Language (L1) interferes with the target communities' spoken English (L2). They substitute the letter L with the letter R and vice versa in words where the letters exist leading to despicable and humiliating comments from their audience. This in addition makes it difficult to decipher what they intend to pass across. The paper also looked at music as an effective medium in enhancing the positive transfer of learning to check this offensive and dehumanizing error. The theoretical framework of this study is based on Edward Thorndike's 'Theory of identical elements', while the research methods employed to elicit the information was survey design including a reading task and creativity.
Â
Keywords: Linguistics, Malapropism, Interference, Language 1 (L1), Language 2 (L2), Transfer of Learning
Â
Â
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Aja, H.N. (2016): Interference among Ohaozara speakers of English.Journal of the Linguistic Association of Nigeria Supplement 2 on Language In History And Society. (495-500)
Akinnaso, F. (1991).Toward the development of a multilingual language policy in Nigeria.
Applied Linguistics, 12(11), 29-61.
Alao, K.O &Adeniyi, W.O. (2009).Advanced psychology of learning.Lagos; NOUN. Cormier, S.M &Hagman J.D. (1987).Transfer of learning: Contemporary researchand
application. New York: Academic Press.
Crowl, T.K; Kaminsky, S., Podell, D.M. (1997). Educational psychology windows on
Teaching. Chicago: Brown and Benchmark Publishers.
Ellis, R. (2008). The study of second language acquisition. Oxford: Oxford university
press.
Hall, G. (2011). Exploring English language teaching: language in action. New York: Routledge Hui Yan. (2010). The role of L1 transfer on L2 and pedagogical implications/le role du transfertdela LI dansl'acquisition de la L2 et les implications pedagogique.
C a n a d i a n S o c i a l S c i e n c e , 6 ( 3 ) , D O I :
http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/j.css.1923669720100603.012
James,C. (1998). Errors in language learning and use.Exploring error analysis. London:
Longman
Jenkins, J. (2009). World English: A resource book for students. New York: Routledge.
Keys, K. (2002).First language influence on the spoken English of Brazilian students of ELT.ELT Journal of applied linguistics, 56, (1), 41-46.
Lado, R. (1957). Linguistics across cultures: Applied linguistics for language teachers. Ann
Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Mahendran, M. (2010).The influence of first language grammar (L1) on the English language (L2). Writing of Tami school students: A case study from Malaysia. Journal of Language in India: Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow, 10(4),
Odlin, F. (1989).Language transfer cross-linguistic influence in language learning.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Oladele, J.O. (1998). Fundamentals of EducationalPsychology.Yaba: Johns-Lad
Publishers
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.