USE OF STRESS AND INTONATION AMONG IGBO SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH- GENDER PERSPECTIVE
- Project Research
- 1-5 Chapters
- Abstract : Available
- Table of Content: Available
- Reference Style: APA
- Recommended for : Student Researchers
- NGN 3000
Background of the Study
The sound system of language is made up of the segmental and suprasegmental features. The segmental features consist of the vowels and consonants. They are so described because they are features of speech which can be broken down into individual units like the vowels and consonants. On the other hand, the suprasegmental features extend beyond the vowels and consonants. They function within larger units like words, phrases and sentences. They are those elements of speech that are not individual phonetic segments (vowels and consonants) but are properties of syllables and larger units of speech. The three main suprasegmental features are stress, intonation and tone (Agbedo 141). In a tone language, like Igbo, tone is often described as pitch that differentiates the meanings of words (Okorji 26). Many researches carried out by linguists ̶ Pike (20 - 25); Cruttenden (58- 61); Clark and Yallop (30 -35); and Okorji (13-18) ̶ on tone languages indicate that majority of the world languages are tagged tone languages and in these languages, tone plays major roles at every level of linguistic analysis. Most Nigerian indigenous languages (e.g Igbo, Yoruba, etc.) are tone languages. In a tone language, the pitch belongs to the word, but in an intonation language, the pitch belongs to the phrase and sentence. As a result of this, the Igbo speakers of the English language attribute the variation to the words and, in so doing end up confusing the native or near-native speaker of English. This is blamed on mother-tongue interference. According to Umera-Okeke, Intonation and other prosodic features modify the stream of speech, thereby helping us to communicate the grammatical and other distinctions in the English we 2 speak just as punctuations are the visual devices that perform similar role for the English we write. (172) The rise and fall in the pitch of the voice are important features in spoken English. Manisha, et al (cited in Ikemelu) explained the importance of these features as follows: Suprasegmental or prosodic features are often used in the context of speech to make it more meaningful and effective. Without suprasegmental features superimposed on the segmental features, a continuous speech can also convey meaning but often loses the effectiveness of the message being conveyed. (23) The importance of these features in spoken English makes it necessary to learn the intonation and stress patterns and their proper use to ensure the intelligibility of spoken English. The constraints in English stress and intonation are the conflicts emanating from an attempt to do away with already formed habit. In the bid to master the features of the target language, an Igbo speaker of English faces some problems in trying to identify with two different linguistic environments. According to Ekejiuba (cited in Chukwu), Language is a habit. An attempt to do away with an already formed habit is often beset with difficulties. The habit one formed in acquiring one’s first language forms a strong background against which one learns another language. Any previously learned habit (that is, the native language) is said to interfere with the acquisition of new ones. (38) This is a good explanation to the constraints observed by the Igbo speakers of English in the use of stress and intonation. Learners’ gradual progress in their performance in the target language makes them overcome some of the problems militating against their learning the second language but some become fossilised. At the level of intonation, this difficulty is evident because the Igbo language is a tonal language whereas English is an intonational language. Again, notwithstanding the syllable-timed system of the Igbo language, it has an intonation pattern called the downdrift. This is the declination of the pitch of the voice from left to right when a high tone and a low tone appear successively in a sentence. This observation was made by Ume et al (cited in Chukwu 43) when they postulated that, “… although Igbo is a tone language, it has 3 traces of intonation” (43). Ugoji (26) opines that “…all writers on Igbo tones have observed downdrift which Schachter observes as an intonation feature similar to English falling tune.” This creates problem of improper use of the English tune patterns in the speeches of male and female Igbo speakers of the English language. This is why there is the tendency for Igbo speakers of the English language to superimpose the falling tune on English sentences requiring rising and combined tunes. In doing this, the melodies and meanings of certain utterances are lost in communication with native or near-native speakers of English. This does not augur well for national and international intelligibility of the English language. This lends credence to the view of Lado when he opines that “…those elements that are similar to the learner’s native languages will be simple for him” (2).
Related Project Materials
FACTORS INFLUENCING AND EFFECT OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICES IN NIGERIA TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS
ABSTRACT
This research deals with the factors influencing and effect of examination malpractices in Nigeria tertiary Ins...
THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE
ABSTRACT
The aim of this project is to find out the factors responsible for the poor academic performance of students in...
COMPUTERIZATION'S INFLUENCE ON THE MICROFINANCE BANKING INDUSTRY
Background of the Study
The utilisation of computers in the preparation of various sorts of accounts, t...
ADMISSION SCREENING FOR TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS
Computer plays a listed role in our daily lives and management. Application of compu...
THE EFFECT OF BOKO HARAM ON MUSLIM CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIP: A STUDY OF MADAGALI LGA IN ADAMAWA STATE
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Religiosity is an indispensable aspect of humans. It is one of the most active...
THE ROLE OF BANK OF INDUSTRY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES IN KADUNA
ABSTRACT
This research work is conducted on the role of bank of industry in the development of small and medium enterpr...
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF UROGENITAL SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY AND HIVINFECTED FEMALES IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
This study is aimed at determining the status, prevalence and significance of female urogenital schistosomiasis (FUGS) in schist...
EVALUATION OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MARITAL SUCCESS AND THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION AMONG FEMALE PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
EXCERPT FROM THE STUDY
The awareness of the extent of the effect of marital instability on individuals and on the societ...
THE IMPACT OF INTRODUCTION OF GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION (GSM) ON THE NIGERIA ECONOMY
Abstract
The dissertation is on evaluating the impact of GSM operating companies on Nigerian economy. The objectives of the study were: t...
THE USE OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN THE TEACHING OF READING IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN EGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE
ABSTRACT
This project work was undertaken to survey the use of audio visual aids in the teaching and learning of English...
