Influence of mother tongue on the spoken english of selected hausa television correspondents: implication for teaching of spoken english at the ss level

Thesis Abstract

This study examined the influence of Mother Tongue on the Spoken English of Television correspondent reporters implication for SS students with a view to determine whether correspondent reporters’ use of English vowels, consonants and stress pattern are influenced by their mother tongue and also to see the implication on students. Consequently, three research questions were raised as follows In what areas does mother tongue influence the use of vowel sounds of television correspondent reporters? What is the influence of mother tongue on the use of consonant sounds of television correspondent reporters? What is the influence of mother tongue on the use of stress pattern of television correspondent reporters? To determine these, live report of two correspondent reporters from Desmims International Television (DITV) and Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Kaduna were recorded and played back. Errors detected were grouped according to whether they are Substitution, Epenthesis, Under-differential or Re-interpretation errors. Points at which the mother tongue phonic features conflicted with that of English language were presented side by side. A basic assumption was raised based on the general belief of people on the place of correspondent reporters as regards proper use of the English language segmental and supra-segmental features. The overall study revealed that the television correspondent reporters committed errors when they pronounced vowel sounds, consonants in some English words and also they stress every syllable of bisyllabic and polysyllabic words of English language. Based on these findings, it is recommended that in-house routine intensive training be organized for reporters on the job in order to train them before any television report. Similarly, well trained English language graduates with good command of language should be employed as reporters in order to avert unwarranted errors where the general public would be misled on the pronunciation of words.