Impact of Pidgin English on the Effective Learning of English Language among Junior Secondary School Students in Port Harcourt
Obisike Iheanyi Osondu Ph.D; Nwala Michael Alozie Ph.D; Mbong Joy Etaruwak

Abstract
This study investigated mother tongue interference among junior secondary school students in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria where Pidgin English is mostly used in communication and serves as the L1. It focused on “transfer of rules” errors. The study adopted a quantitative research design with a sample size of 120 students randomly selected from four schools in the study area. The questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. Frequencies, percentages and mean scores were used to analyse the data. Any item that scores above 50% was considered valid. The major findings show that the students had “Transfer of Rules” Error on Phonology; they had 54.4% incorrect responses on the realization of /θ/ and /z/. The respondents also had difficulty in the correct usage of the morpheme “er” in generating words; they had an overall mean score of 60.4% under incorrect responses. The study therefore recommended adequate and constant practice so as to overcome negative mother tongue transfer.

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