Chima Uzoma.O ,
Department of Igbo Language
Dr Monica Okafor
Department of English Language .
Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo.
Abstract.
This study examines the effects of the mother tongue on students in their efforts to acquire English as their second language. The scope of the study was limited to Afikpo South in Ebonyi State Nigeria. The study has three research questions and three hypotheses, while the sample size is made up of From the findings of this study, all the null hypotheses were rejected. Relevant data were collected using questionnaires and test items. The research population include hundred and fifty lecturers and 300 students randomly selected from secondary schools. The data collected were calculated and analyzed in percentages, and t-test analysis. The findings and conclusions include that: The difference in phonological and orthographical systems in English and Igbo leads to linguistic interference in acquiring English. Students’ mastery of the English Language is affected by home and linguistic backgrounds. The differences in the grammatical and vocabulary patterns of Igbo and English interfere with the student’s mastery of English. Based on these findings, some recommendations were made to improve the standard of teaching and limit linguistic interference.
Keywords: Mother Tongue, Interference, Acquisition, Language.
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