Abstract

This project titled “pronunciation variation amongst ESL 400 level students of the University of Buea” is a project which talks about pronunciation differences among 400 level students of the University of Buea. This project is written to determined pronunciation variation among ESL 400level students of the University of Buea.  Specifically, this research has as objective to find out if ESL 400 levels at UB actually present pronunciation differences, examine the influence of pronunciation variation among 400 level ESL students of UB, and find out the effect of pronunciation variation among ESL 400 Levels at UB. The problem in this study is the differences in the English speaking skills of 400 level ESL students of the University of Buea. In order to arrive at a good conclusion, the researcher adopted a quantitative method that involves statistical analysis. The Findings of the study shows that ESL 400 level students of the University of Buea actually present pronunciation differences

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Cameroon was colonized by Britain and therefore one of the standards that are accepted is the British standard of English, it should be the form of English spoken by Cameroonians. And this British English has its own consonants and vowel sounds. These sounds are supposed to guide us in speaking and pronouncing up to standard. But now from observation, it is noticed that the standard has not been maintained, it has been influenced by other aspects like the mother tongue of the 400 level students, Pidgin English, and not leaving out the Cameroonian variety of English language. This project, therefore, seeks to investigate pronunciation variation and what the 400 level English second language learners (ESL) of the University of Buea speak. The environment we live in today has made it hard for the 400 ESL of the University of Buea to pronounce up to standard, so students now tend to pronounce the same word differently.

From the observation of how pronunciation influences students’ educational achievements. The desire to speak in more than one language that is Pidgin English and British English has a great impact on student’s educational achievement. It was realized that some students do not like or accept the second language introduced to them which as a result influences their pronunciation. The researcher wishes to investigate the problem of pronunciation variation and how it affects students’ educational achievements at the University of Buea.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

 The problem identified in this research topic is the differences in the English speaking skills of 400 level ESL students of the University of Buea. It has been noticed that ESL 400 level students confused the pronunciation of some set of words and students do not differentiate between some vowel sounds which have more than one way of pronunciation for example the vowel in “mat” and “mate”

It is therefore the reason why this research is out to investigate the difficulty for ESL 400 level students to pronounce correctly with native-like pronunciation.

1.3 AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this research is to demonstrate pronunciation differences among 400 Level students and to bring out the effect of such variation.

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This study attempts to accomplish the following objectives

• To find out if ESL 400 levels at UB actually present pronunciation differences
• To critically examine the influence of pronunciation variation among 400 level ESL students of UB.
• To find out the effect of pronunciation variation among ESL 400 Levels at UB.

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1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Given the problem stated above, we could generate the research questions that will permit us to better understand what we intend to do:

• do ESL 400 levels at UB actually present pronunciation differences
• What influence pronunciation variation among ESL 400 level student of the University of Buea?
• What are the effects of pronunciation variation among ESL 400 level student of the University of Buea

1.5 Hypotheses

• ESL 400 levels at UB presents pronunciation differences
• There is a significant influence on pronunciation variation among ESL 400 level students at UB
• There are effects of pronunciation variation among ESL 400 level students