An Analysis of Grapho-syntactic Errors in the Language of Advertising in Nigeria
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The primary aim of this study is to analyze grapho syntactic errors in the language of advertising in Nigeria. Thus, the following objectives;
- To determine whether grapho-syntactic errors indicate deficient mastery of the English language.
- To determine if there a correlation between the rates of occurrence of these errors and the level of education of the users of these erroneous forms.
- To determine whether these erroneous forms show traces of interference from the first language of the users.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Introduction
There has not been much work done on grapho-syntactic errors in the language of advertising in Nigeria. The more common field which has been studied is errors in language use and errors in second language learning. Examples of such works are Significance of Learner’s Errors by Corder; Error Analysis and Interlanguage by Corder; Error Analysis: Perspectives on Second Language Acquisition Strategies by Richards; Problems and Methodologies in Teaching English as a Second Language by Obi- Okoye, and Action Research into the Use of a Writing Process Approach in Nigerian Schools to Teach English as a Second Language by Obi-Okoye. In this review, we shall look at such key issues as what an error is, the classification of errors by various linguists and opinion of some linguists on these classifications, Nigerian English, advertising, and grapho- syntactic errors.
Concept Of Language Errors
Every user of a language encounters one problem or the other in the course of using that language. These problems occur as a result of incomplete mastery of that particular language. Users of a second language try to overcome these problems which indicate some level of incompetence in the language. Lay men normally dismiss this incompetence as slips or mistakes, but for linguists such as Headbloom cited in Ubahakwe, “errors are not the same as mistakes” (28). He goes on to say that “mistakes are not systematic but occur as a result of some phonological or sociological conditions” (28). Thus, we can say that some mistakes do not indicate one’s level of competence. Such random mistakes can be taken as slips such as spoonerisms and slips of tongue or pen. When mistakes are consistent and non-random, they are counted as errors, at any level of language. The concept of language errors is a fuzzy one, pursuing an adequate definition of errors is like chasing a slippery eel. Just as its outline appears to emerge, it disappears into another conceptual category. Linguists have not fully agreed on the criterion for defining errors. Research into the field of errors is based now on the nature of errors. A sociologist, Labov, in trying to highlight the difficulties in stating what an error is, has stated “If someone uses a sentence structure that is not generated by the grammar, there is nothing to prevent us from setting it aside as a mistake or a dialect difference”.(200).
The term ‘error’, according to Hornby is “a thing done wrongly, a mistake”. The term is related to the verb ‘to err’ which in Latin originally meant “to wander from” (390). Thus, an error is taken to mean a deviation from a norm. One therefore, wonders what this norm actually is. Some people will refer to particular expressions as errors because they do not belong to the prestige dialect but this should not be so. This is because modern linguists emphasize what speakers can say rather than what speakers should say, that is, grammar should account for what is possible rather than what is the preferred standard of language. Investigations of errors should be on violation of grammatical rules, that is, deviations from what is possible in a language or a variety of that language rather than from formal registers.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
Research Design
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e. mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
Population Sampling Size
The population for the study will consist of executives and their subordinates in the organization which is charged with the application of management by objectives to attain organizational goals in the organization.
This study was carried out to examine grapho-syntactic errors in the language of advertising in Nigeria. Hence, the population of this study comprises of English and linguistics students in two selected universities in Lagos State.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of two hundred and twenty-nine (229) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which two hundred and fifteen (215) were returned while two hundred and ten (210) were validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 210 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Introduction
This chapter summarizes the findings on grapho-syntactic errors in the language of advertising in Nigeria. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.
Summary of the Study
In this study, our focus was to examine on grapho-syntactic errors in the language of advertising in Nigeria. The study is was specifically carried out to determine whether grapho-syntactic errors indicate deficient mastery of the English language, determine if there a correlation between the rates of occurrence of these errors and the level of education of the users of these erroneous forms, and determine whether these erroneous forms show traces of interference from the first language of the users.
The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 210 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are English and linguistics students in two selected universities in Lagos State.
Conclusion
Based on the findings of this study, the researcher concluded that;
- Grapho-syntactic errors indicate deficient mastery of the English language.
- Thereis a correlation between the rates of occurrence of these errors and the level of education of the users of these erroneous forms.
- These erroneous forms show traces of interference from the first language of the user.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are proffered.
1.The Nigerian government through the Federal Ministry of Education should provide more educational facilities for the citizens of Nigeria. It should also improve the already existing ones, as well as subsidizing the cost of education, as lack of funds makes a lot of people drop out of school.
2.The Nigerian government should ensure a prompt improvement of language learning facilities in schools in order to improve the mastery and effectiveness of the English language of the citizens.
3.There should be a stipulated level of education to be attained by all before going off into “business”. A minimum of Senior Secondary School Certificate (S.S.S.C.) or at least, Junior Secondary School Certificate (J.S.S.C.) is strongly recommended.
4.Language teachers on their own part should work harder and be more creative in teaching spelling and calligraphy in the early formal education. They should encourage the use of the dictionary, early in school life. They should use whatever method that has been found by experts to be most appropriate in E.S.L. to teach English grammar. Since the research has shown ample evidence of the negative effects on spelling and syntax, there is need for all teachers of English at all levels to be familiar with error and contrastive analysis and the application of their findings in the classroom so as to reduce the incidence of grapho-syntactic errors by the products of our educational system.
5.The Nigerian government should establish a council of linguists to look into the problem of “Nigerian English”, to verify its existence and recommend remedies or the way out whether they should be “acceptable” or “unacceptable” in the Nigerian context.
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