The Influence of Dholuo Structure on English Compositions by Primary School Pupils in Homa Bay County

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of Dholuo syntactic interference on the interlanguage of learners in upper primary, specifically classes six, seven and eight in Pala Zone of Homa Bay County. The study used interlanguage theory by Larry Selinker, which sees errors as typical of learner language, even useful, in diagnosing the areas which the learner has most problems in learning the target language as well as the stage of learning he/she is in. The data was collected in five primary schools whereby pupils wrote compositions which were marked for errors. The errors were explained in terms of their source – interlingual (native language interference) or intralingual (target language learning strategies). It was found that not all errors arose as a result of first language interference even though these were a majority. An almost equal number of errors were intralingual – arising out of the target language or its learning processes. This study is significant as it can be used by teachers in teaching, researchers involved in cross-linguistic research and students in their study to find out the source of their errors and focus more attention to the areas which need most attention.