Phonological Interference of Igbo Sounds Among Adult Igbo Learners of the French Language

Abstract

Igbo adult learners of the French language in Nigerian schools, most especially in higher institutions (Universities and Colleges of Education) find it difficult to speak the French language fluently without the features of Igbo phonology. This is due to the negative effect of linguistic interference. This study investigates the features of Igbo sounds interference in the speech of Igbo learners of French at the Nigerian French Language Village, Ajara, Badagry during their French Language Immersion Programme. Thirty Igbo learners of French form the population of the study. Data for this study, which were mostly recorded using tape recorder were obtained from Igbo learners of French as they speak, during a close observation of their utterances. The recorded data were carefully listened to in order to sieve the French sounds that were badly uttered due to negative interference of Igbo sounds. It was discovered that hardly could any of them utter French words without Igbo sounds interferering. The study therefore recommends that Igbo learners of the French language get intensively and practically involved in oral drill of French sounds using the Contrastive Analysis (CA) to ensure appropriate articulation of those sounds.