EFFECTS OF TIV PHONOLOGICAL PATTERN ON THE LEARNING OF ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN GBOKO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background to the Study

Tiv is the language spoken by most people in Benue State, Nigeria. They form the Eastern part of the state with six local governments. A small group of Tiv-speakers live in neighbouring Cameroun. Large groups live in Plateau state, where they have expanded to the region of Lafiya and in Gongola state where they can be found farming up to Mutm Biyu. In areas like Wukari known to be the centre of the Jukun, they form the majority. They expand through farming and are farmers by passion. There are an estimated three million Tiv speakers.

Language is a creation which every human being is endowed with or blessed; a unique gift of language is used naturally as one tool of expression consisting of different sub skills. The English language is the official and native language of Britain, Ireland, North America, Australia, America and most of the British colonies, (for the colonies, it is regarded as the official language rather than native). It is commonly divided by periods into Anglo-Saxon, or old English (about 450-1100 Bc), Middle English (about 1100 to 15Bc) and modern English (from 1500 to date).

The purpose of this research work is to find out how the Tiv phonological pattern affects the learning of English Language as a second language. The researcher in this work intends to investigate this problem and find out those aspects of Tiv Language that aid the learning of English as a second language, and at the same time affects the learning of English as a second language negatively.

Tiv language is widely spoken in Benue State because more than half of the population of the State is made up of Tiv people. Therefore, one of the foremost issues in the learning of English in this society is the interference of mother tongue on the learning of English as a second language. But it has been observed, and rightly too, that English language is the most important subject in our own school curriculum, since, it is the crucial tool through which information, concepts, skills and values in all other subjects are transmitted.

            For learners who have to struggle towards their goals through the medium another language, other than their mother tongue, is usually a herculean task. Weakness in English Language frustrates all other academic ventures. This is even more so where entry into tertiary institutions demand a very good pass in English Language, in fact schools all over the nation, English Language is compulsory for all learners and is the one in which a credit pass is demanded as a pre-requisite for entry into tertiary institution. So, the study of the language is pursued with much vigour by all, but the general performance of candidates in this very important subject has been disappointingly poor and failure rates lamentably high at the secondary level when the nationwide public examinations are taken.

            Many authorities have advanced reasons for the inability of learners and teachers in this important language. For example Tiffen in Tiffen (2008) identifies a major factor as being a result of interference. He views this interference from two perspectives: Interference from the sound system of the mother tongue (phonological interference) and Interference from the grammar and lexis of the mother tongue.

The main concern of this research is to investigate the effect of Tiv phonological pattern on learning of English Language as a second language among secondary school students in Makurdi Local Government Area. This study has to be undertaken because of the assertions by many people that many Tiv people have problem with some aspects of English Language and these problems are common among most Tiv learners of English Language.

Many people often say that when a Tiv person speaks, the spoken language is identified as that of a Tiv person because of the wrong use of /i/ and /r/. it is in view of this fact that this work is to be undertaken to find out the truth or falsehood.

It is good to find out the problems and solve them because English as a second language in Nigeria, apart from serving as the only linguistic unifying factor for all the different ethnic groups, serves as the official language of administration, legislature, education and commerce. And as long as English Language enjoys its present status, role and function in Nigeria, success in English Language as a subject will continue to be in great demand.

      It is because of the importance of this language that the researcher has decided to contrastively study and examine the effect of Tiv and English Phonological patterns so as to come out with what will be of benefit to learners of this language.

1.2       Statement of the Problem`

It has been pointed out earlier that the performance of many Tiv students in English pronunciation is appalling. One of the major factors responsible for this poor performance is interference.

According to Bright and Macgregor (2015), the inability to distinguish between phonemes poses serious learning problems to the learner of English as a second language. They further went on to say that many learners of English as a second language usually have difficulties distinguishing between /s/ and /ᶋ/, /r/ and /ᶖ/ or /p/ and /f/ and that many have difficulties such as mistaking /˄/ for /R/, mispronouncing /ᶖ/ as /r/, and inability too pronounce /n/ before /g/ (as in sing) because no nasal ever precedes a voiced stop in their mother tongue.

Another assumption by many is that, is that because of fewer number of vowels in Tiv language than in English Language, they tend to substitute those absent with some other vowels that are present in their language.

It is because of the aforementioned reasons that the researcher has decided to probe into these problems and come out with some findings and recommendations which, she hopes, will be beneficial to many.

1.3       Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Tiv phonological pattern on learning of English Language as a second language among senior secondary school students in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. In specific terms, this study will attempt to:

1. Determine the effects of tiv phonological pattern on learning of English as a second language among secondary school students.
2. Determine the similairites and dissimilarities that exist between the tive and English phonology.
3. Find out whether the Tiv phonology has both good and aderse effects or whether there only good or bad ones.
   • Research Questions

            In carrying out this research work, the following questions will be used as guidelines:

1. What are the effects of Tiv phonological pattern on learning of English as a second language among secondary school students?
2. What are the similairites and dissimilarities that exist between the Tiv and English phonology?

• To what extent does the Tiv phonology has both good and adverse effects?

1.5       Significance of the Study

The research is very important because it is one of the pioneer studies in this area of study. The study will go a long way to benefit many sets of people.

1. It will be of benefit to teachers of English Language. If teachers of English Language read this work with deep concern and understanding, they will be able to understand the effects that Tiv phonological pattern have on the teaching and learning of English Language as a second language.
2. It will enable students identify the effects of their mother tongue on the learning of English Language as a second language, and they will be able t utilize the knowledge gotten from this work to solve their learning problems.
3. This study will avail the textbook writers and designers with the ability of writing books that will be suitable for Tiv learners of English Language.
4. The study will aid the researcher find out the areas of difficulties in the learning of English Language by the Tiv people, and will bring up his recommendations which will go a long way in solving learning problems in English Language.

1.6 Delimitation of the Study

            This study is limited to Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. This is because Makurdi is the seat of the Tiv people and it is said that the purest form of the language is spoken in Makurdi. The subjects to be used in finding out the effects of Tiv phonological pattern on learning of English Language as a second language will be those of the senior secondary school.The researcher will try to find out both the good and adverse effects of effect of the Tiv phonological pattern on learning of Engliish Language as a second language

1.7 Operational Definition of Terms

1. Tiv: This is a tribe that is commonly found in Benue State. According to history, they originated from Congo.
2. Phonological Pattern: This is the pattern of learning a particular language.

• Learning: Learning is a permanent change in behaviour that comes as a result of practice or experience.

1. English Language: refers to a subject taught and used at all levels of academics, and is commonly used as a means of communication.
2. Senior Secondary School: refers to those from SSS 1 to SSS 3.