Abstract
The study was carried out to determine the major areas of difficulty
experienced by the students, and it is hoped that some of the findings may
help to overcome the anxieties experienced by students and teachers alike.
One thousand two hundred samples of free composition written by Igbo
students (J S II & J S III) who have studied Yoruba as L2 for more than one
and half years were examined. The samples were randomly selected from
three Federal Government Colleges in Awka and Onitsha Education zones
of Anambra State. The research instrument used was adopted from
NECO’s past questions on the target language. Four research questions
were raised; statistical mean was used to answer the four research
questions.
Based on the findings, the following grammatical errors were identified:
(i) misuse of tense, (ii) misuse of verb (iii) pronoun errors, (iv) noun
errors, (v) spelling errors, (vi) high case errors, (vii) style errors, (viii)
adjectives/adverbs errors (ix) tone
I N T R O D U C T I O N
1.1 Background to the Study
Language is a very fascinating course of study, perhaps because of its
‘magical and mystical power’ and unique role in capturing the breadth of
human thought and behaviour. Every knowledgeable human being
recognizes the primacy of language in education which has serious
implication for human development. Language is a very essential element
in human life and one of the greatest attributes which characterize human
beings; it is the most uniquely human, and quite possibly the most
important. It is around us, everywhere, in speech, writing or simply in our
minds as we dream, remember conversations, or quickly think of a
problem. Language is so vital in man’s life that there is hardly any situation
where it is not involved (Ibiowotisi, 1998).
It has been proved beyond doubt that language is the major vehicle of
thought (Obi-Okoye, 1989). Whatever profession or involvement, people
always want to clarify their thoughts through the use of language. Also, it
permeates our thoughts, mediates our relationships with others and even
creeps into our dreams. Without language there will be no human society.
Education, socialization, civilization and national development could not
have been possible.
Language according to World Book Encyclopedia (1989) is human
speech, either spoken or written. Also Hornby, Gaterby and Wakefield
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(1971) define language as human and non-instinctive method of
communicating ideas, feelings and desires by means of a system of social
symbols. Language, according to Wilson (1972:191) is an artificial and
consciously organized method of control by the use of symbols or
conventions, which involves the notion of meaning. Though the behaviour
of some animals other than human beings satisfies some of these criteria,
man alone is capable of controlling his environment himself by means of
language–technique.
In supporting the above assertion, Denga (1988:160), defines language
as a vehicle of communication, which enables us establish human
relationships. According to Denga language is then exclusively a human
form of communication.
Also, Webster (1989:122) sees language as a “communication by voice
in the distinctively human manner, using arbitrary, auditory symbols in
conventional ways with conventional meanings.”
The above quoted linguists and educators agree that language is a
method of human communication: it is non-instinctive and arbitrary.
Iyale (2002:48) sees language as an “articulate speech which
historically arose out of the social activity of man as a product and
instrument of social labour”.
According to Gimson (1980:13), language is:
a system of conventional signals used for communicating
by a whole community. The patterns of conventions cover a
system of significant sound units … the inflexion and
arrangement of words, and the association of meaning with words.
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Patt (1980:12) sees language as a “vehicle of power, a means by
which we control, create and preserve”. From the above definitions
language is used to preserve culture of the people. For this reason
therefore, the language of any community is an integral part of their
culture.
Fobins (1984; 5) defines language as “a system of vocal
communication that comprises a circumscribed set of noises resulting from
movement of certain organs within the throat and mouth”. He goes further
to say that “by means of these, man is able to express his feelings and
emotions, to influence the activities of others and to compact himself with
varying degrees of friendliness or hostility towards persons who make use
of substantially the same set of noises.”
The above definitions give the meaning of language and also some
major functions which language performs.
According to Nwankwo (2008:32), language is a system of
conventional signs, all aspects of whose structure serve the sovereign
function of meaning. For Anagbogu, Mbah and Eme (2010;1), language is
a means devised by human beings for communicating ideas, feelings,
emotions, desires etc through complex vocal or written symbols. The
above definitions have it that language is structured, vocal and serves
communication purposes. Adebisi (2006:147), quoting Smith (1985) sees
“language as a learned, shared and arbitrary system of vocal symbols
through which human beings in the same speech community or sub-culture
interact and hence communicate in terms of their common cultural
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experiences and expectations. Agbedo (2000:16) observes that “language
is the culturally-established rule, which govern all forms of speakers that
share common linguistic knowledge.
Bloch and Trager, in Robins (1980:120), see language as a system of
arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group cooperates”.
From the above definitions, it is observed that the authors see language
from the social point of view. Modifying this definition, Essien (1984:4)
defines language thus, language is a system of structured arbitrary vocal
symbols by means of which human beings make meaning and
communicate with each other in a community. Put more simply, language
is a system of rules in which sound structure and meaning are integrated for
communication. According to Hattum (1979:30), language is “an acquired
system of structured but arbitrary vocal, graphic and signs and symbols that
provide meaning by cataloguing and representing people, places, things
and feelings and other abstract concepts.” He further stresses that
communication which is the process whereby information, images,
thoughts, feelings, ideas and concepts are transmitted between or among
individuals is primarily acquired through the use of various forms of
language.
From these various definitions of language, it has been observed that
language is a means by which humans express their thoughts, feelings,
emotions, ideas etc, to one another; it has also been observed that there is
no stereo-type definition of language, although, all the linguists,
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philosophers and anthropologists who have been cited see language from
their own point of view and area of interest.
Language can be described as one formidable instrument that makes
the human society and human cooperation a reality. Language can then be
seen as the complex and subtle activity that human beings engage in using
the words in interactive communication.
Language Situation in Nigeria
Nigeria is a multilingual country amalgamated in 1914 by Lord Lugard.
This amalgamation brought together the different ethnic and linguistic
groups in Nigeria. In Nigeria, the number of languages cannot be arrived
at with mathematical accuracy due to the multi-ethnic nature of the
country. Scholars have, however, attempted to give different figures in
their research studies, ranging from 200 – 500 (see Bamgbose, 1970, Otite,
1990, Obi- Okoye, 2005). However, Bepo (2005) puts the number of
Nigerian languages at 600 plus. He goes on to say that many Nigerian
languages are yet to be reduced to writing, especially those in the Niger
Delta area. However, out of all these languages, the Federal Government
approved the teaching and learning of three major Nigerian Languages
from the primary school level to the tertiary level.
The National Policy on Education (2005:9) states that:
in addition to appreciating the importance of language as a
means of preserving the people’s culture, the government
considers it to be in the interest of national unity. In this
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connection, the government considers the three major
Nigerian languages in Nigeria to be Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba
(p. 9).
Also, the language Policy states further that:
the Government considers it to be in the interest of
national unity that each child should be encouraged to learn
one of the three major languages other than his/her own
mother tongue as a second language (L2) p. 10.It should be borne in mind that by this policy, language has been
used as a tool to promote inter-ethnic understanding, to foster cultural unity
and integration through facilitating communication among Nigerians from
different ethnic areas without engaging the services of interpreters (Ajao,
1994:32).
To achieve the stated objective of Language policy as related to the
Nigerian Languages, Educational Research and Development Council
(NERDC) and the Joint Consultative Committee on Education (JCCE)
have developed curricula for the three major Nigerian Languages for the
Junior Secondary Schools level for both L1 and L2 users. Also, the
National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has developed a
Minimum Standard on Language Syllabi for teaching Nigerian languages
as a second language (NCCE’s report 1992). The teaching and learning of
the three major Nigerian Languages in the Colleges of Education and at the
secondary school level started since 1992. The programme has produced
many graduates and they are all gainfully employed by both the state and
the federal governments. According to Finnocchiro and Bonomo (1973:23)
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“the overall goal of a second language teaching and learning is to enhance
effective communication and cultural understanding”. Specifically, the
learning of a second language means developing the four language skills
(listening, speaking, reading and writing). The importance of mastery of
the four language skills as important tools of learning has been emphasized
by Unoh (1982:25). Thus communication skills are good for intellectual
development.
Ayodele (1981:1) has helped to stress the importance of reading and
writing skills; he says that the importance of writing is realized from
student’s self-expression ability borne out in essays and letters, how they
express their comprehension of the passage in written form and in
summarizing passages they need to resort to writing. However, listening
and speaking always precede reading and writing; especially among young
learners that is L2 learners.
It is generally agreed that reading and writing are the two
components of literacy (Aboderin, 1985:232). Since reading is usually a
silent, receptive mode of communication, writing, which is its productive
counterpart, becomes the only visible art of literacy. If this assertion is
accepted, it can safely be asserted that both an individual and his society’s
writing skills are the proof of the nation’s functional educational system.
Writing is important to academic success in tertiary institutions.
Students in these institutions have to write, among other things, class
essays, laboratory reports, and term papers pertaining to their fields of
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study. They also have to write essays to answer examination questions. It
is a skill students must acquire in order to succeed academically.
To buttress the above assertion, Aboderin (1985:233) says that:
Writing provides one strong link with the past and future.
One can scarcely imagine what life might be if the earlier
educators who lived before had not been able to write
down the products of their minds. Not only would
technological progress have been considerably slower but
also man would have lost most of the great thoughts of
poets, philosophers, linguists, psychologists, sociologists
and statesmen.
The points made above make it indisputable that any effort expended
on developing or teaching efficient writing skills to our students is neither
wasted nor misplaced. Such an effort is, in fact, a right step in the right
direction since it constitutes an investment capable of yielding invaluable
dividends in the long run.
Despite the fact that teachers have exposed students to all
stages/procedures that can enhance effective writing, unfortunately, most
students find it difficult to write coherent and comprehensible essays. They
often complain that they find it difficult to express their ideas on paper
(Christinson and Krahnke, 1986:4).The reason for this is not far-fetched. It
is because they lack the linguistic competence. To write a good or thought
provoking and error free essay, students must have a good mastery of the
target language. It is one of the duties of their teachers to identify various
errors in each student’s essay and analyze them critically to find solutions
to such errors.
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Error analysis is the study of learners’ inter-language in order to
better understand the processes of L2 acquisition (Corder, 1977, Selinker
1972). Error analysis also goes further to differentiate between errors and
mistakes. A mistake is failure to use a known system correctly. This
failure may occur as a result of fatigue, excitement, ailment etc. On the
other hand, the term error ordinarily means ‘willful or negligent breach of a
known rule or code’. Also the term error means noticeable deviation from
the native speaker norms and to bring a breakdown in communication. It is
possible for a learner to correct his/her mistakes but errors cannot be
corrected by a learner because he/she does not posses the competence to do
so.
Second language learners from different linguistic backgrounds make
similar errors in learning one target language. The possible general sources
of error include: language transfer, transfer of learning, strategy of second
language learning, strategies of second language communication and overgeneralization. It is pertinent to say that error analysis seeks to account for
learner’s errors that contrastive analysis cannot predict.
Researchers have shown that studying learner’s errors helps to
provide learning processes and helps teachers and curriculum
planners/developers to know which area of the target language, learners
have most difficulty and to proffer possible solutions to alleviate the
problems (Dulay and Burt, 1982 and Ajayi, 1998). Also, once a learner’s
system of errors has been recognized, described and analyzed, the teacher’s
next task is to draw up a plan of teaching and re-teaching. The particular
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plan or programme depends obviously on the amount and degree of error
exhibited by the class as a whole. It should be borne in mind that constant
correction of L2 learners of the target language (Yoruba) will improve their
writing skills.
1.2.2 Statement of Problem
All scholars either in the areas of arts, sciences and inventions depend
greatly on the ability to communicate their thoughts to one another.
Writing is one of the avenues through which man has achieved preeminence over the lower animals and indeed all living things. As a teacher
of Yoruba L2 especially at the N.C.E level, the researcher has discovered
that many of the students do not have the barest notion of what a good
essay ought to be. It is the poor attitude and orientation from the secondary
school that probably accounts for the poor written essays students present,
judging from the essays written by students studying Yoruba as L2 at the
N.C.E level.
A number of scholars have focused attention on the weaknesses in the
communicative ability of both the undergraduates and graduates of our
NCE, particularly in English and Igbo written compositions. Such
weaknesses tend to be identified with poor grammar, wrong lexical
selections, and inappropriate structures, organization of discourse and years
of training. Unfortunately, the performance of candidates in the target
language in both school certificate and NCE examinations does not in any
way fall in line with the great importance attached to the target language as
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well as the need for the teaching and learning of the language. The fact
that many students perform poorly in written composition in external
examinations (like Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE),
General Certificate in Education ’O’ level (GCE), National Board for
Technical Education (NABTEB) is a great concern to teachers at all levels
of the educational system. The reason for this poor performance may be
traced to grammatical problems encountered by the students’ at all
educational levels.
This study focuses on the difficulties of Igbo students with written
Yoruba. It can be observed that most of Igbo learners of Yoruba as a
second language find it difficult to express ideas in written form and also
Yoruba L2 teachers find it difficult to teach writing because it seems so
complex, and they are frequently discourage about the results they
achieve.
Some of the most errors made by Igbo learners studying Yoruba as a L2
arise from mother-tongue interference. It uncommon for a L2 student who
has studied Yoruba for one and half years to be unable to carry on a simple
conversation or write a short passage without marking several serious
grammatical errors. These errors can result from applying Igbo
grammatical structures to Yoruba , or from selecting incorrect vocabulary
items.
These identifiable problems prompted the researcher to investigate the
causes and types of errors made by the JS II and the JS III students in
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Yoruba L2 written composition in the Unity Secondary Schools in
Anambra State.
1.2.3 Purpose of Study
This study is primarily intended to:
1. find out the common errors made in the written Yoruba
composition of students who have studied Yoruba as a second
language for at least one and half years.
2. provide the teachers of Yoruba with a clear idea of a controlled or
guided approach in the teaching of free composition.
3. find the influence of gender on the errors committed by the
students.
4. identify and explain the types of errors that can be prevented during
the early years of students studying Yoruba as L2 in secondary
schools.
5. find out the influence of class stream on the various errors
committed by the students in secondary schools.
1.2.4 Scope of Study
The subjects for the study will be limited to the JS II and the JS III
students in the three unity schools in Anambra State. The schools are: (a)
Federal Government Girls’ College, Onitsha; (b) Federal Government
College, Awka; (c) Federal Government College, Nise. The subjects
consist of 1200 students. As a result of this limitation, the generalization of
the results to all students will be limited to the JS II and the JS III students.
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1.2.5 Research Questions
The following research questions guide the researcher during the
study:
1. What are the common grammatical difficulties facing L2 students
in written Yoruba composition?
2. To what extent do the errors committed by the JS II students differ
from those of the JS III students in written Yoruba composition?
3. To what extent are the grammatical errors committed by the JS II
male students differ from those of the JS II female students in
written Yoruba composition?
4. To what extent do the grammatical errors committed by the JS III
male students differ from those of the JS III female students in
written Yoruba composition?
1.2.6 Significance of Study
This study is significant to the Yoruba language teachers because it
will assist them in knowing how to eliminate many of the errors committed
by the L2 students. This will enable them to use the best method in solving
the problem.
Knowledge of the grammatical errors made by the students will
stimulate the Yoruba language teachers to adopt new methods geared
towards improved teaching and learning of the target language.
This study is significant to authors/writers in the Yoruba language
because it will help them in the production of relevant texts and other
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learning materials that will reduce grammatical errors of students in written
Yoruba composition.
Examination bodies like the National Teachers Institute (NTI),
National Board for Technical Education (NABTEB), West African
Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO),
Measurement and Evaluation Centre (MEC), National Education Research
and Development Council (NERDC) will find this work useful as it will
help them in setting appropriate questions and assessment of their
candidates.