Minimalism and Interlanguage Competence: A Study of ESL Bilinguals' ... of the Requirements for the Award of Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree in English ...
i
Minimalism and Interlanguage Competence: A Study of ESL Bilinguals’ Prepositional and Non-prepositional Verb Usage in Owerri Urban
By Basil Friday Ovu 2009026032P
Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka
Being a Thesis Presented to the Department of English Language and Literature in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree in English
ii
Approval Page This thesis has been approved for the Department of English Language and Literature, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
By
____________________
_________________
Dr. Ngozi Ezenwa-Ohaeto (Supervisor)
Date
___________________
_________________
Dr. Geraldine Nnamdi-Eruchalu (Head, Dept. of English Lang. & Lit.)
Date
____________________
__________________
Prof. Tracie Utoh-Ezeajugh (Dean, Faculty of Arts)
Date
____________________
__________________
Prof. Ike Odimegwu (Dean, SPGS)
Date
____________________
__________________
External Examiner
Date
iii
Certification This is to certify that I am responsible for the work submitted in this thesis and that the original work is mine except as specified in the works cited.
………………… Basil Friday Ovu 2009026032P
iv
Dedication This work is dedicated to the memories of my late parents, Mr Robert Igwe Ovu and Mrs Florence Nworie Ovu.
v
Acknowledgements I wish to generally express my profound gratitude to all the people that contributed to the completion of this work. I am particularly indebted to my indefatigable supervisor, Dr Ngozi Ezenwa-Ohaeto, for her patience and academic guidance which led to the successful completion of this work. I also I owe huge intellectual debts to the following lecturers: Profs Dolly C. Ekpunobi and D.M. Nduka; Drs Jane Ifechelobi, Ephraim Chukwu, Chinwe Ezeifeka and Mr R.U. Uzoezie (Department of English Language and Literature) and Drs C.C. Uchechukwu, B.I. Mmadike, D.U. Mbagwu, G.O. Obiamalu and L. Nkamigbo (Department of Linguistics), all at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, for their painstaking efforts in shaping my intellectual growth. I wish to thank the organisers of the 4th African Linguistics Summer School, held at the Institut National Polytechnique Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire (July-August, 2016) for providing me with the opportunity to build on my knowledge of Minimalist Syntax. I wish to specially thank the faculties and facilitators in the Introduction to Minimalist Syntax Class and Negation Workshop: Profs Chris Collins (NYU), Vicki Carstens (Southern Illinois), Hilda Koopman (UCLA), Malte Zimmerman (Potsdam), Enoch Aboh (Amsterdam), Akin Akinlabi (Rutgers) and Dr Mira Grubic (Potsdam) for their in-depth and exciting teaching methodology. Prof. Chris Collins deserves a special recognition for making some of his works on minimalist syntax available to me. I am equally indebted to my Brazilian friend, José Roberto Zambon, for assisting me with more reference material and Reverend (Dr) Bethel Azubuike who continuously encouraged me to push on especially during those dark days when this work seemed insurmountable. Dr Shehu Adaramaja and Mr. Chigozie Okororie deserve my heartfelt gratitude for guiding me through the statistical analyses of the results. Finally, I wish to acknowledge the fact that this work would not have been completed without the support of my wife, Mrs. Ebere Victoria Ovu-Basil (Nee Emejuobi), and my siblings: Grace, Magnus, Nneka, Uchenna, Ifunanya and Onyinyechi. Thank you all for being there for me. Words are grossly inadequate to express my gratitude to you all.
vi
Abstract This thesis investigated the variability which exists between the use of prepositional and non-prepositional verbs in Nigerian English and Standard English. The study was carried out under the theoretical framework of Linguistic Minimalism as developed by Noam Chomsky and expanded by others. Minimalism since its introduction into language studies over the last two decades has developed in directions that have spawned a myriad of research focus among the proponents of generative syntax. The present study, therefore, reviews some fundamental minimalist concepts, principles and predictions, and testing their workability in the Nigerian ESL environment using 600 research subjects drawn from both staff and students of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, as the research sample. Relying on the descriptive survey design, where data were obtained using two research instruments: a controlled non-cognitive elicitation questionnaire and a multiple choice objective test, the researcher investigated the effects of micro-level morphosyntactic features on the use of the prepositional and non-prepositional verbs among the research subjects. Results of the two data sets were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The mean, median, range and standard deviation reveal (among other things) the following: a high rate of prepositional and non-prepositional verbs in the active vocabulary of the research subjects; a moderate level of competence in the use of the verbs among the research subjects; a negative correlation between frequency of verb usage and the research subjects’ competence in correctly using the verbs in contexts; a greater challenge in the use of non-prepositional verbs than the prepositional verbs among the research subjects; a stiff competition between the norm of standard usage and norm of popular usage of prepositional and non-prepositional verbs among the subjects; the existence of micro-level morphosyntactic features which affect the categorial status of the sampled verbs which are in line with some fundamental predictions of minimalist syntax; evidence of false analogy and critical period effects which predispose the research subjects to errors. The study was concluded with recommendations and suggestions for further studies.
vii
Table of Contents Title Page:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
i
Approval Page:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ii
Certification: -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
iii
Dedication:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
iv
Acknowledgments:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
v
Abstract:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
vi
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
vii
1.1. Background to the Study:
-
-
-
-
-
1
1.2. Statement of the Problem:
-
-
-
-
-
5
1.3. Purpose of the Study:
-
-
-
-
-
7
-
-
Table of Contents:
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction
-
1.4. Significance of the Study:
8
1.5. Scope of the Study:
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
1.6. Research Questions:
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
-
-
-
10
2.1.1. Basic Concepts and Operations in Minimalism:
-
-
11
2.1.2 Structure Building Processes in Minimalism: -
-
-
15
2.1.3. Some Economy Conditions in Minimalism:
-
-
24
2.1.4. Linearisation of Null Constituents in Minimalism:
-
-
34
2.1.5. Minimalism and Bilingual Competence:
-
-
46
2.1.5.1. Nature and Dimensions of Bilingual Competence: -
-
47
2.1.5.2. Minimalist Perspectives on Bilingual Competence: -
-
50
CHAPTER TWO: Review of Relevant Scholarship 2.1
Conceptual Framework:
-
-
-
-
viii
2.1.6. Perspectives on Second Language Acquisition:
-
-
53
2.2. Empirical Studies:
-
-
59
-
-
-
-
CHAPTER THREE THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1. Introduction:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
72
3.2. Theoretical Framework:
-
-
-
-
-
-
72
3.3. Research Methodology:
-
-
-
-
-
-
77
3.3.1. Design of the Study:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
77
3.3.2. Area of Study:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
78
3.3.3. Population of the Study:
-
-
-
-
-
-
78
3.4. Sample and Sampling Technique:
-
-
-
-
-
79
3.5. Instruments for Data Collection:
-
-
-
-
-
79
3.6. Validation of the Research Instruments: 3.7. Administration of Instruments:
-
-
-
-
81
-
-
-
-
-
81
-
-
-
-
-
81
-
-
-
82
Discussion of Findings, Conclusion and Recommendations: -
-
-
104
Works Cited:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
113
Appendices:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
127
3.8. Method of Data Analysis:
-
CHAPTER FOUR Data Presentations, Analyses and Summary of Findings:
CHAPTER FIVE
