OLUOMACHI CHUKWU - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by OLUOMACHI CHUKWU

The problem of phonotactic pronunciation is a common one amongst the English second language lear... more The problem of phonotactic pronunciation is a common one amongst the English second language learners. Previous studies on English and Igbo phonological differences or relations have focused chiefly on mother tongue interference. This approach has been unable to unearth other phonological differences in both languages such as the phonotactic constraints permissible in the two languages. In this regard, a descriptive survey design is adopted to investigate the phonological phonotactic patterns permissible for both English and Igbo segments and their influences on the Igbo speakers of English. Optimality theory (OT) was adopted as the framework of this study to give an account of constraint ranking in the languages and how they are violated by second language learners in the process of second language acquisition. The primary data were drawn from 97 respondents who were selected via stratified random sampling from three selected secondary schools in Owerri municipal council of Imo State. Two Labovian models of passage reading and word listing were adopted as methods of data collection and administered via interview, a method adopted by the researcher to elicit accurate data. The data collected were analyzed using tables, simple percentage and indebt summaries. Data analysis revealed that Igbo phonotactics have no correspondence in English phonotactics. Consequently, the respondents insert vowels and delete segments in the English consonant clusters, harmonize English words, change English segments and features lacking in Igbo phonotactic structure and phonemic inventory. The study also revealed that phonological phonotactic structures are language specific which may sometimes interact with other languages’ structure or violated by second language learners. This study proposed word listing exercise and drilling of students in the problematic areas. The result of the study will motivate further investigation in this field and will help scholars conducting phonological studies in English and other languages.

Key words: phonotactics, mispronunciation, English and Igbo segments, optimality theory, marked constraints.

Drafts by OLUOMACHI CHUKWU

The study investigates the phonological impairment in selected children. The study adopts a descr... more The study investigates the phonological impairment in selected children. The study adopts a descriptive survey approach to assess and propose treatment goal for children identified with phonological disorder. The population of this study includes three participants above age seven from the researcher's school, who were identified with prominent and consistent phonological disorder. The error patterns of the participants were examined using the optimality theory approach. The study identifies the laterals /l/ and /r/, post alveolar and 0 2 8 3 dental fricatives / / /ϴ/ as being highly problematic and also observes a case of genetic etiology as two of the participants are siblings. In order to treat the error patterns of the candidates, the study proposes minimal pair comprising target segments, syllabification, gradual reading and pronunciation of words methods. The results of this study will serve as a pedagogical guide to classroom teachers having pupils with speech sound disorder and also will be beneficial to potential researchers

The study investigates the phonological impairment in selected children. The study adopts a descr... more The study investigates the phonological impairment in selected children. The study adopts a descriptive survey approach to assess and propose treatment goal for children identified with phonological disorder. The population of this study includes three participants above age seven from the researcher's school, who were identified with prominent and consistent phonological disorder. The error patterns of the participants were examined using the optimality theory approach. The study identifies the laterals /l/ and /r/, post alveolar and 0 2 8 3 dental fricatives / / /ϴ/ as being highly problematic and also observes a case of genetic etiology as two of the participants are siblings. In order to treat the error patterns of the candidates, the study proposes minimal pair comprising target segments, syllabification, gradual reading and pronunciation of words methods. The results of this study will serve as a pedagogical guide to classroom teachers having pupils with speech sound disorder and also will be beneficial to potential researchers

The problem of phonotactic pronunciation is a common one amongst the English second language lear... more The problem of phonotactic pronunciation is a common one amongst the English second language learners. Previous studies on English and Igbo phonological differences or relations have focused chiefly on mother tongue interference. This approach has been unable to unearth other phonological differences in both languages such as the phonotactic constraints permissible in the two languages. In this regard, a descriptive survey design is adopted to investigate the phonological phonotactic patterns permissible for both English and Igbo segments and their influences on the Igbo speakers of English. Optimality theory (OT) was adopted as the framework of this study to give an account of constraint ranking in the languages and how they are violated by second language learners in the process of second language acquisition. The primary data were drawn from 97 respondents who were selected via stratified random sampling from three selected secondary schools in Owerri municipal council of Imo State. Two Labovian models of passage reading and word listing were adopted as methods of data collection and administered via interview, a method adopted by the researcher to elicit accurate data. The data collected were analyzed using tables, simple percentage and indebt summaries. Data analysis revealed that Igbo phonotactics have no correspondence in English phonotactics. Consequently, the respondents insert vowels and delete segments in the English consonant clusters, harmonize English words, change English segments and features lacking in Igbo phonotactic structure and phonemic inventory. The study also revealed that phonological phonotactic structures are language specific which may sometimes interact with other languages’ structure or violated by second language learners. This study proposed word listing exercise and drilling of students in the problematic areas. The result of the study will motivate further investigation in this field and will help scholars conducting phonological studies in English and other languages.

Key words: phonotactics, mispronunciation, English and Igbo segments, optimality theory, marked constraints.

The study investigates the phonological impairment in selected children. The study adopts a descr... more The study investigates the phonological impairment in selected children. The study adopts a descriptive survey approach to assess and propose treatment goal for children identified with phonological disorder. The population of this study includes three participants above age seven from the researcher's school, who were identified with prominent and consistent phonological disorder. The error patterns of the participants were examined using the optimality theory approach. The study identifies the laterals /l/ and /r/, post alveolar and 0 2 8 3 dental fricatives / / /ϴ/ as being highly problematic and also observes a case of genetic etiology as two of the participants are siblings. In order to treat the error patterns of the candidates, the study proposes minimal pair comprising target segments, syllabification, gradual reading and pronunciation of words methods. The results of this study will serve as a pedagogical guide to classroom teachers having pupils with speech sound disorder and also will be beneficial to potential researchers

The study investigates the phonological impairment in selected children. The study adopts a descr... more The study investigates the phonological impairment in selected children. The study adopts a descriptive survey approach to assess and propose treatment goal for children identified with phonological disorder. The population of this study includes three participants above age seven from the researcher's school, who were identified with prominent and consistent phonological disorder. The error patterns of the participants were examined using the optimality theory approach. The study identifies the laterals /l/ and /r/, post alveolar and 0 2 8 3 dental fricatives / / /ϴ/ as being highly problematic and also observes a case of genetic etiology as two of the participants are siblings. In order to treat the error patterns of the candidates, the study proposes minimal pair comprising target segments, syllabification, gradual reading and pronunciation of words methods. The results of this study will serve as a pedagogical guide to classroom teachers having pupils with speech sound disorder and also will be beneficial to potential researchers