| Title: |
Syllabification: A Case Study of Pronunciation Pattern of Igbo Learners of German |
| Author(s): |
Ezekiel Olagunju & Godswill Eze Otu |
| Abstract: |
This study identified syllabification errors in the spoken German of selected Igbo learners. It also
categorized the identified syllabification errors and further analysed possible causes of the errors identified.
These were done with a view to providing insights into the level of competence of the learners. The data
for this study was derived from recorded reading of purposively selected German text from Sicher B1
German course book by final year L2 Igbo students of German in three Nigerian universities. The study is
a quantitative study and the data collected were analysed using Interlanguage theory of Larry Slinkers
(1972). The results showed that the syllabification errors in the spoken German of selected Igbo learners
were related to effects of consonant clusters. The study found that 60% of the respondents omitted
consonant clusters on the first, second and third syllable, while about 40% inserted vowels between
consonant clusters and about 40% inserted vowels after the coda of a closed final syllable, hence, the errors
identified were categorized as being related to consonant deletion, vowel epenthesis and vowel epithesis.
Finally, the study concluded that the selected Igbo learners of German have not yet fully mastered the
syllabification system of German and hence were easily influenced by their native language (Igbo) while
reading a text in German. |
| Keywords: |
Syllable, vowel, consonant Clusters, Epenthesis, Epithesis.
|
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EBONYI JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE
