Nigerian English and the Phonotactic Influence of the West Chadic Languages

Blessing  S. Lagan,; Mary  D. Nimram,

Nigerian English and the Phonotactic Influence of the West Chadic Languages

Blessing Saina’an Lagan | Mary Daniel Nimram

Discipline: Education

Abstract:

Phonotactics is a fundamental aspect of phonology that governs the permissible combinations of sounds in a given language. It consists of rules that dictate how phonemes; the smallest units of sound can be arranged to form syllables and words. These rules determine which sound sequences are allowed and which are prohibited, shaping the phonological structure of a language. This study examines the phonological constraints of four West Chadic languages in Nigeria (Piapung, Mwaghavul, Goemai and Kwagalak) and observes how the phonotactic features of these languages influence the English pronunciation of the native speakers by using the theory of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and phonological interference or language transfer. Words and sentences with phonotactic constraints were given to 40 participants to read (10 from each language). The research identified areas where these features create pronunciation challenges and the possible implications for pedagogy. The findings of the research show that speakers move between L1 and L2 norms, producing an intermediate phonological system. It concludes by suggesting some teaching strategies that can help speakers overcome their pronunciation challenges and pedagogy.

References:

Crystal, D. (2003). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Cambridge University Press.
Cutler, A. (2012). Native Listening: Language Experience and the recognition of spoken words. MIT Press.
Giegerich, H. (1992). English Phonology: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press.
Goldsmith, J. (1990). A Phonological Theory: The Essential Readings. Basil Blackwell.
Jowitt, D. (1991). Nigerian English: A Study in Phonology and Phonetics. Longman.
Longtau, S. (2004). Some Historical Inferences from lexical Borrowings and Traditions of Origins in the Tarokoid/Chadic Interface. International symposium on Endangered Languages in Contact: Nigeria’s Plateau Languages. 1-37.
Roach P. (2009). English Phonetics and Phonology: A practical Course. (4^th ed). Cambridge University Press.
Soneye T. O, & Ayoola, K. A (2015). Onset Consonant Cluster Realization in Nigerian English: The Emmergence of an Edogenous Variety? In U. Gut, & E. M. Wunder, (Ed). Universal or Diverse Paths to English phonology. De Gruyter (pp 117-134).
Odden, D. (2013). Introducing Phonology. (2^nd ed). Cambridge University Press.
Ofulule, C. I. (2017) Phonological Interference in the English of Nigerian Learners: Implications for teaching and Learning. Journal of Nigerian English Studies Association, 20(2), 14-29.
Unubi, S. A. (2019). Consonant Deletion in the Speech of English-Platoid Bilinguals. Advances in Image and video Processing, 7(1), 19-33.
Yavas, M. (2016). Applied English Phonology. (3^rd ed). Wiley Blackwell.