NATIVE LANGUAGE INTERFERENCE IN ENGLISH ADJECTIVE ORDERING: A STUDY OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGERIA
Abstract
Many studies revealed that non-native speakers of English language face difficulties in
understanding the correct order of adjectives, especially when there is more than one
adjective qualifying a noun. This is a case of interference which, although criticized by
several authors, referring to the influence of one language on another. This study aims to
examine native language interference in English adjective position and order among English
non-native speakers. The study employed a qualitative approach, in which test and error
analysis were used to collect and analyze data respectively. The participants comprised final
year students of Government Secondary School Dala, Kano-Nigeria. A sample of 20 students
who are Hausa native speakers was purposively selected using typical sampling strategy. The
findings revealed that the students’ native language influences their English adjective
position and order. Altogether, the students made 66 errors out of 200 responses they
provided across English adjective position and order. These errors might reflect poor
academic performance amongst the students. Therefore, the students should develop both
English speaking, and reading culture and their teachers should encourage them, since
language learning requires constant practice.
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