MULTILINGUALISM AND STUDENTS COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE IN ENGLISH

MULTILINGUALISM AND STUDENTS COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE IN ENGLISH

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Declaration

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE      –      INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background to the study

1.2  Statement of the problem

1.3  Purpose of the study

1.4  Significance of the study

1.5  Limitation of the study

1.6  Delimitation of the study

1.7  Research Questions

1.8  Definition of Operational Terms

CHAPTER TWO – REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

CHAPTER THREE – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1  Research Area

3.2  Research Design

3.3  Population of the study

3.4  Population Sample

3.5  Sample Technique

3.6  Administration of the Instrument

3.7  Research Instrument

3.8  Method of Data Collection

3.9  Method of Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR – DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS

                           AND DISCUSSION OF FINDING

4.1  Data Presentation and Analysis

4.2  Analysis of Result with Research Questions

4.3  Discussion of Findings

CHAPTER FIVE – SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND

                          RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1  Summary

5.2  Conclusion

5.3  Recommendations

References

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background to the study

Essentially, the domain of usage of English as a second language makes it formal, it is the official language of Government, education, commerce, and to a large extent, social interaction especially among the educated elite Bamgbose (1978).

However, within Nigeria alone, it is estimated that nearly 400 languages are spoken, Agheyisi (1984) Bamgbose (1971). Thus, in Ghana 47, Doiphyne (1995) and in Sierra Leone, sixteen. In the context of such complex multilingualism, it is expedient for Government to stick to a neutral language such as English as official languages.

MULTILINGUALISM AND STUDENTS COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE IN ENGLISH

In education, English is introduced as a subject from the first year in Primary schools and used as a medium of communication and subject of instruction from the third year through secondary and tertiary education in private schools especially in cosmopolitan areas, children are taught in English language from the kindergarten to gain admission into any university faculty a credit pass at O’ level in English is a prerequisite. In fact, it is only in very rare cases that a pass is considered.

The range of students’ proficiency in English within Nigerian colleges for example, is infinite. There is a recognisable division between mainstream educated spoken Nigerian English, there is a tendency to stress the final syllable in a sentence even  if  it is not a personal pronoun, the effect of  this is not just that the Nigeria accent ‘is different from any other but that the message that the speaker wishes to convey is not carried out effectively by the medium undue importance is given to grammatical items while those words with full lexical meaning are deprived of their prominence Kachru (1969). Therefore, this study aimed to examine multilingualism and students communicative competence in English among English students.

1.2   Statement of the problem

Multilingualism is the capacity of a speaker to inhabit and function in two or more distinct languages and communities, multilingualism is a sociolinguistic phenomenon that arises as a result of language contact. It is a situation in which two i.e. bilingualism specifically or more language  operates within the same context.

It has been observed that the ability for students to use the English language in a variety of spoken and written context pose a lot of problem hereby making them to violate the rules guiding the second language, though there are a lot of seminars and conference papers being presented to improve on students multilingual competence in English.

Students still have numerous problems either in the spoken or written English, it has so been observed that the concept of competence in a language such as English is multidimensional, it is  postulated by Canate and Sulain (1980), that students communicative competence in English is driving down the trend. Therefore, it is against this background that multilingualism and students communicative competence in English becomes imperative.

1.3   Purpose of the study  

The main purpose of this study is to examine multilingualism and students communicative competence in English, a case study of year two students. The study shall attempt to find out if multilingualism affects students communicative competence in English also, the study shall attempt to suggest measures towards improving on student’s communicative competence in their everyday life.

1.4   Significance of the study 

This study shall be of great benefit to teachers educators and other researchers in the following ways:

• Firstly, it will reveal the effect of multilingualism on English language learner that exists in Nigerian colleges.
• It will help English language curriculum planners and educational policy makers to develop curriculum and implement policies that will enhance effective English language teaching in a multilingual society such as ours.
• Lastly, through the development of effective communicative competence in English students will be able to speak English with international intelligibility.

1.5  Research Questions 

The following research questions will be raised in line with the purpose of the study:

• Do students in the department of English use English language often?
• Is English language one of the most spoken languages in English department?
• What strategies should be adopted to make students speak English language fluently in the department of English?
• Do students develop a positive attitude toward the speaking of English language in English department?

Definition of Operational Terms

The study shall attempt to give meanings  to some operational terms that are found in the study such as:

Multilingualism: This is simply the capacity of a speaker to inhabit and function  in two or more distinct languages and communities.

Competence: Competence is cluster of related abilities, commitments, knowledge, and skills that enable a person (or an organization) to act effectively in a job or situation. Competence indicates sufficiency of knowledge and skills that enable someone to act in a wide variety of situations.

Communication: In brief, the activity or process of expressing ideas and feelings or of giving people information.

Accent: A way of pronouncing the words of a language  that shows which country/area or social class of a person or where he comes from.

Interaction: The ability to use English language to communicate with somebody especially while you work, play or spend time with them.

Pluralistic Society: The existence of many different groups of people in one society i.e. in terms of religion, language, race and ethnic group.

Conclusion

The study on multilingualism and students communicative competence in English has looked into the concept of multilingualism, features of multilingualism in Nigeria as well as the problems caused by the multilingual nature of Nigeria society.  In addition, it is seen that multilingualism affects everything including language. It lot of issues were discussed on globalization and multilingualism one major problem of multilingualism pointed out is the dominance of English it overshadows, demotes and degrades other languages which often  lead to languages death this is why students hardly communicate effectively in English.

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