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A Contrastive Analysis of the Verbal Group Structures of English and Urhobo
Abstract
Contrastive analysis (CA) is used in the study of language as a method of explaining why some features of a target language are more difficult to learn than others. It is predicated on the assumption that the structure of an already internalized language will influence the learning of another language. In this Chapter, we provide a contrastive analysis of the verbal group structures of English and Urhobo (Niger-Congo), to give insights into the effective learning of both languages. Urhobo belongs to the South Western Edoid language groups of the Benue Congo family. It spans nine local government areas in Delta State, where it is the dominant language. It is also spoken in some communities in Bayelsa, Edo and Ondo States. The verbal group which functions at the predicator position, is a mandatory element in Urhobo and English sentences. The structure of both languages was contrasted using Halliday’s systemic grammatical model (Halliday in World 17:241–292, 1961). Findings reveal that there are phenomenal differences between their VG structures with few similarities. Furthermore, knowledge of these differences and similarities will facilitate the learning of the verbal group structures of English and Urhobo.KeywordsContrastive analysisContenative constructionExponenceUrhoboVerbal group
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This paper undertakes a contrastive linguistics of relativisation in English and Nigerian Pidgin. The three main objectives of this paper are as follows: first, it undertakes an overview of Nigerian Pidgin as a neo-African language; discusses the benefits of Chomsky's Minimalist program that is adopted as the grammatical model for this study and it undertakes an overview of contrastive linguistics as a distinct field of linguistics. Secondly, the paper discusses a linguistic description of the derivation of relativisation in English and Nigerian Pidgin. Thirdly, the essay discusses the differences between relativisation in English and Nigerian Pidgin; it identifies the learning difficulties that a Nigerian pidgin speaker will encounter while learning relativisation in English. While relativisation is derived through wh-xp that moves from DP to spec-CP which leaves a co-indexed trace in English. In NP, relativisation is derived through the introduction of relative clause introducer "we" which functions like "that" complementizer since it is base generated at spec-CP. The semantic scope of "we" is extended to include the introduction of non-finite clauses and prepositional phrases in Nigerian pidgin.
A contrastive analysis must proceed through four steps: description, selection, contrast, and prediction. Most analyses are weakened by insufficient care at one or more of these steps, each of which is beset with problems. A basis for making selections, a format for contrasts, and a means of relating contrast and prediction is suggested.
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1968. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 421-426). Microfilm.
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