This study presents the effects of mother tongue interference on the academic performance of secondary school students in English language as second language.

1. MOTHER TONGUE INTERFERENCE AMONG SELECTED YORUBA-
ENGLISH BILINGUALS IN ADO-EKITI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF
EKITI STATE
BY
DARAMOLA, BLESSING

2. CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Language is a socio cultural phenomenon which has the characteristic role of
communication as well as being an index of group’s identity. For language to be effective
and functional, it has to perform a communicative role. Farinde and Ojo (2001:not paged)
stated that language is a system of conventional vocal symbol used for communication by
a whole community. Akindele (1999:198) also stated that, language is a system of
symbol or vocal system by which human being communicate experience.
According to Gimson (2000: not paged), “language is the institute whereby
humans communicate and interact with one another by means of habitually used oral-
auditory arbitrary symbols”. Language issue is therefore very important and sensitive
because it touches the identity and ego of members of the community and thus posses’
problem.
Nigeria as a multilingual country is made up of different ethnic groups that
occupy a complicated landscape from its historical, cultural, political, economic and
educational heritages and developments. The major languages in Nigeria according to the
British colonial point of view are Hausa in the northern region, Yoruba in the western
region, and Igbo in the Eastern region within the country. This has already craved an age
for the English language as the only unifying solution to such a multilingual country.
Danladi (2013:22) noted that language policy becomes the extraordinary measures to
determine values, norms, basis of conduct, and loyalties in the country. Nigeria is a multi
ethnic society, in view of its geographical spread, coupled with its over 450 languages

3. and the number of their speakers. In the same vein, Danyaro (2007:12) was of the opinion
that English Language has become one of the prerequisite subjects for anyone applying to
study in the Nigerian higher institutions. It is therefore expected that anyone who scored
a credit at ‘O’ level exams will be able to satisfactorily show an element of proficiency in
English.
Mother tongue is a language in which a multilingual person conducts his everyday
activities in which he has the greatest linguistic facilities or initiative knowledge. It is the
language in which for the effectiveness of its functions required the learner’s knowledge
of all four basic skill of learning i.e. speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Mother tongue is defined as the language that a person speaks best, and so is often
the basic for socio-linguistics identity. Also it is the language which a group of people
considered inhabiting, and which eventually becomes their natural instrument of thought
and communication. Such views are but merely reflections of the different
methodological shift in English language teaching which have brought new and different
outlooks in the role of mother tongue.
The interference of mother language in learning and speaking English as a second
language is generally a lifelong experience. Learners and speakers never manage to shake
off the lexical stress pattern of their native language in their English oral production.
Children learn their mother tongue by imitation, but when learning a second language,
they face difficulties of accepting the rules different from that of their mother tongue.
Therefore, the interference of native language is felt in their language learning and
communication. Interference can be described as deviations in a learner’s/speaker’s use
of a foreign language which can be traced back to the learner’s/speaker’s first language

4. that has been acquired before. In concordance with this, Radhiha & Kala (2013) opined
that interference include errors that occur in the learning of a second language.
The importance of English language acquisition is that it serves as a stepping
stone for proficiency in other school subjects because other subjects apart from the native
languages are taught and examined with the use of English Language.. The knowledge of
English Language is important for educational, economic and national development of a
country. Also English language as a school subject derives its importance from its
utilitarian value to the larger society.
There is dearth of literature on mother tongue interference among Yoruba-English
bilinguals in the study area, therefore this study is set to fill the gap in literature by
examining mother tongue interference among selected Yoruba-English bilinguals in Ado-
Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
1.2 Aim and Objectives of the Study
1.3 Research Questions
1.4 Methodology
1.5 Theoretical Framework
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Statement of the Problem
1.8 Conclusion
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 English Language in Nigeria
2.2 Second Language Acquisition
2.3 Factors affecting Second Language Learning
2.4 The Concept of Mother Tongue

5. 2.5 Significance of mother tongue
2.6 Controversy over negative attitude towards mother tongue
2.7 Interference
2.8 Bilingual
2.9 Factors that Cause Language Interferences
2.10 Transfer Error
CHAPTER THREE: DATA PRESENTATION AND DATA ANALYSIS
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Statistical Analysis
3.3 Analysis of selected errors committed due to mother
tongue interference by the students
3.4 Discussion
CHAPTER FOUR: GENERAL CONCLUSION
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Summary
4.3 Conclusion
4.4 Recommendations
References
Appendix
For the complete write up, contact MCBENLEO Edu consult on 08030746761,
08061669817
e-mail: sohjayventures@gmail.com
OR
Make payment to the following bank details;
Bank name: UBA
Account number: 2037779911
Account name: Daramola Blessing and send the teller through whatsapp or email
and the complete write up will be sent to your mail.
MCBENLEO, a researcher you can trust
Note: it will be edited to suit your case study