INFLUENCE OF MOTHER TONGUE IN LEARNING OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AMONG IGBO SPEAKING LEARNERS IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS

INFLUENCE OF MOTHER TONGUE IN LEARNING OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AMONG IGBO SPEAKING LEARNERS IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS
 
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Language is the most distinctive human quality and attribute. Language ischaracterized by a set of vocal sounds which can be decoded. Language does notexist in a vacuum. It is always contextualized. There is a relationship betweenlanguage and society. The importance of the relationship between language andsociety cannot be over-emphasized in the education of a child. Language is a guideto social reality. English language is one of the languages used in igeria.English language has become a valuable legacy of the !ritish which has provided igerians with yet another means of expressing their culture. Englishlanguage is igeria”s official language #$dedime%i& ‘(()*. English language performs numerous functions in igeria. It serves as lingua franca. It is thelanguage of instruction& language of constitution& language of nationalism& media&+overnment& education among others. This is because igeria is a multilingualcountry and English language serves as a lin, among the people.English language is introduced to a child from the fourth year of primaryschool up to the university level #la%ide& ‘((*. This is clearly stated in section / paragraph 0& subsection on primary education& ‘((/ of the 1ederal republic of  igeria”s national policy on education.