Ákụ́òyíbó Nsugbe Journal of the School of Languages

Inherent Grammatical Inconsistencies: A Challenge for Learners of the English as a Second Language

2025-12-27T15:44:40+00:00

Like any other natural language, English is rich and complex by virtue of its arbitrary and conventional symbols. Such symbols characterize the language with inherent grammatical irregularities in linguistic areas of morphology, syntax, phonology and spelling. In morphology, for instance, L₂learners of the language unconsciously learn how to form new words in so many different ways. They form nouns, as an example, by adding -ment to some verbs to get statement and attachment. L₂ learners of the language are also taught that words ending in -er mean something or somebody that does something, like teacher, tapper, or drummer. A singer is somebody that sings. But does such part of the body like finger *fing? Do shoulders *should? Does liver *live? In inflectional morphology, adding -ed suffix to a verb, depending on context, indicates simple past or past perfect tense, like entered, killed, or kicked. But such -ed past tense morpheme is not applicable to the formation of past tenses for verbs like write (wrote), eat (ate), or come (came). From these few examples, it is assumed that grammatical rules of the English cannot be trusted, so to say. It will result to incongruities should the rules be applied mechanically. This is because the grammatical rules for word formation are not all together consistent. The inherent irregularities pose a challenge to the L₂ learner in acquiring communicative competence in the language. This paper is an attempt to investigate the inconsistencies prevalent in the grammatical rules of the English language, which have salient exceptions that L₂ learners are not always conversant with. The objective of the study is to highlight these grammatical flashpoints which confuse L₂ learners when they encounter the grammatical rule exceptions in normal communication events. Such investigation covers other linguistic areas of syntax, phonology and spelling. In pursuit of these objectives the paper will attempt to shed light on the following: why the pronunciations of many English words are not related to their spellings; why many words are not pronounced as spelt; why English spelling is so irregular, and; why the irregularities in the spelling and pronunciation of English words.

*Linguistic sign of unacceptable

Neo-colonialism and the burden of social realism in wale Okediran’s strange encounters and Chris Egharevba’s canopy of thunder

2025-12-27T16:11:15+00:00

The post-independence Nigerian has for a long time sought vehemently to obtain some form of liberty, not from the government of the colonial masters but from the government of their own people – the very same people whose reign was heralded by optimism and the joy of freedom. What was expected was not to be as these new set of leaders became the masses’ nightmare – taking undue advantage of the power bestowed on them and wantonly misappropriating national funds. This corruption was however, not peculiar to the people at the nation’s highest cadre as down the ranks, individuals who have been granted positions of authority even at the lowest levels grossly abused these responsibilities. This paper examines and eviscerates the place of the masses versus the powerful in a society that is characterised by debauchery and amoral practices. This paper particularly examines the incidents in Wale Okediran’s Strange encounters and Chris Egharevba’s Canopy of thunder in a bid to bring to limelight, issues pertaining to the denigration of the nation. His paper concludes that the plight of the masses and, in fact, corruption can be significantly alleviated if the people jointly rise against the factors that promote their occurrence.

Cultural Creativity: Panacea for Peace and Security in Southwest Nigeria

2025-12-27T16:14:01+00:00

Cultural creativity plays a vital role in fostering peace and security in Southwest Nigeria by promoting inclusivity, mutual understanding, and social cohesion. Through artistic expressions, storytelling, music, literature, and indigenous festivals, Communities Bridge divides, heal conflicts, and create narratives that encourage tolerance and cooperation. In the Southwest, Yoruba cultural traditions, including proverbs, oratories, and communal rituals, serve as tools for conflict prevention by preserving identity while fostering respect for diversity. In contemporary society, cultural creativity has been instrumental in countering violence, political tensions, and social unrest in the region by offering alternative means of communication and engagement. Governments, civil society organizations, and educational institutions increasingly integrate cultural programs into peace building efforts, recognizing their power to transform attitudes and behaviors. Additionally, digital media and technology have expanded the reach of cultural creativity, enabling cross-cultural collaborations that strengthen regional security frameworks. However, challenges such as cultural misappropriation, economic instability, and political manipulation must be addressed to maximize its potential. Emphasizing cultural education, policies that protect creative freedoms and the revitalization of indigenous practices can enhance its role in conflict resolution. Ultimately, cultural creativity remains a sustainable and inclusive approach to achieving long-term peace and security in Southwest Nigeria

Les problèmes de la motivation dans l’enseignement du français chez les élaves au Nigeria

2025-12-27T16:25:20+00:00

L’enseignement du français comme langue étrangère au Nigéria se heurte à un problème majeur : le mangue de motivation des élèves. Ce désintérêt généralise compromet la qualité de l’apprentissage et les performances scolaires plusieurs facteur expliquent cette démotivation : la perception de l’inutilité de français dans la vie quotidienne, des méthodes d’enseignement peu interactives, le manque de ressources pédagogie ques la faible qualification de certains enseignement, ainsi que l’influence dominante de l’anglais dans l’environnement sociolinguistique Nigérian. Ce contexte engendre un faible engagement des apprenants et un taux d abandon élève. Ce travail discute les problèmes de l’enseignement et de l’apprentissage de français. Ce travail aussi propose des approches pédagogiques innovantes, une meilleur formation des enseignements, l’intégration d’éléments culturels francophones des programmes d’échange et un soutien institutionnel renforce. Favoriser la motivation des élèves est essentiel pour assurer un enseignement du français plus dynamique, pertinent et durable au Nigéria

The problem of sustainability in translation studies: whose languages are preserved and whose are erased?

2025-12-27T16:35:24+00:00

Translation plays a critical role in promoting linguistic sustainability and cultural continuity in an increasingly globalized and digitized world. While it fosters intercultural communication and knowledge exchange, translation simultaneously determines which languages are preserved and which are marginalized. This study interrogates the paradoxical role of translation as both a preserver and an agent of linguistic extinction. It explores how translation policies, market forces, and emerging technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—privilege dominant global languages such as English, French, and Mandarin while excluding low-resource and indigenous languages. The research employs a non-experimental qualitative approach, relying on theoretical and textual analysis to examine translation’s ecological, ethical, and socio-political dimensions. Drawing on Linguistic Ecology Theory and Postcolonial Translation Theory, the study situates translation within broader debates on linguistic justice and sustainability. Linguistic Ecology Theory highlights translation’s function within interdependent language ecosystems, whereas Postcolonial Translation Theory reveals how colonial and neo-colonial legacies sustain linguistic hierarchies. The central objective is to evaluate how translation influences the sustainability or erasure of languages within global communication systems. Findings suggest that translation can either empower endangered languages through inclusive, community-driven initiatives or reinforce linguistic homogenization through structural inequality. The study calls for a redefinition of translation ethics toward “translational sustainability,” emphasizing inclusivity, reciprocity, and digital equity as prerequisites for preserving global linguistic diversity.

On the Eradication of Kidnapping, Hook-Up, Oke-Ite and Yahoo-Plus: The Therapeutic Roles of Igbo Written Drama and Proverbs

2025-12-27T16:47:00+00:00

This paper entitled “…on the eradication of kidnapping, hook-up, oke-ite and yahoo-plus: The Therapeutic Roles of Igbo Written Drama and Proverbs”, investigate pressing societal vices including ritual-based cyber crime (yahoo-plus), prostitution (hook-up), kidnapping and the ritual charms known as oke-ite. Explores contemporary social issues such as: kidnapping, prostitution (hook-up) ritual charm (oke-ite). Using a qualitative descriptive method, the study identifies the socio-cultural roots and morals implications of these acts. The paper argues that Igbo written drama and proverbs, as repositories of cultural wisdom and ethnical instruction, hold therapeutic potential in correcting deviant behavior. It concludes that when youth internalize the didactic messages embedded in these traditional resources, they are more likely to abstain from engaging in such destructive activities.

The Aesthetics of Rumor as Contemporary Legend: The Study of selected Tales in the south-east

2025-12-27T17:07:09+00:00

Rumors are part of the daily lives of a people within a particular geographical area. These tales make the rounds and exert some influences that condition the way a group of people live their lives. Many a times have one heard of such expressions like, “It’s just a story, ‘Oh it’s one of those gossips or it’s a sheer rumor”. This implies that people tend to disregard and neglect rumor. And do not pay any attention to it nor care to verify the authenticity and the validity of such tales, which invariably leave them apprehensive, worried, panic stricken and equally fearful. The study investigates rumour with the purpose of establishing their significance and relevance as contemporary legend. Thirteen tales which form the population of the study were selected and analysed using four theoretical frameworks – sociological, formalism, oral formulaic and contextual theories, The paper studies this by highlighting not just the text and the texture of the tales , but also the context that gives birth to the text . The study finds out that these tales are essentially products of the society and are aesthetic by the reason of the aesthetic undertones they possess, which condition man to either act or react in a particular way, even when their authenticity cannot be proved and when they are not even believed. The study recommends amongst others that the society should always tap from the cautionary, informative, alert consciousness, entertaining and educative undertones of this rare folklore genre.

Influential factors on students’ artificial intelligence skill acquisition as perceived by business education lecturers in tertiary institutions in Anambra state

2025-12-27T18:37:02+00:00

This study investigated influential factors on students’ acquisition of artificial intelligence (AI) skills acquisition as perceived by business education lecturers in tertiary institutions in Anambra State. Guided by two research questions and two null hypotheses, the study employed a survey design with 112 lecturers in public tertiary institutions offering business education programme in the Anambra State. Data were collected using a validated 16-item structured questionnaire, with reliability coefficients of .89 and .87 obtained for clusters B1 to B2, and overall value of.88 established through Cronbach Alpha. The researcher with the help of three research assistants was involved in direct method of data collection. Mean, standard deviation, and t-test were used for analysis. Findings revealed that both institutional-related and lecturer-related factors significantly affect students’ AI skill acquisition, while teaching experience had no significant impact on lecturers’ perceptions. The study concluded that inadequate institutional support, limited resources, and insufficient lecturer preparedness hinder effective integration of AI skills into business education programs. It recommended that tertiary institution administrators invest in modern computing resources, update business education curricula with current AI concepts, provide access to relevant learning materials, and encourage collaboration between business and technology-related departments to enhance curriculum relevance and resource sharing.

Pragmatic analysis of speech act theories in Ola Rotimi’s “our husband has gone mad again”

2025-12-27T18:53:36+00:00

This work focused on the Pragmatic Analysis of Speech Act theory in Ola Rotimi’s “Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again”. Some selected dialogue from the drama text under study were used as samples and analyzed using J.L. Austin’s (1962) Speech Acts Theory. Speech act is central to pragmatics. It is concerned with specific social acts performed in making utterances. Speech act is credited to J.L. Austin in the views he expounded in the series of William James lectures he delivered at Harvard in 1955. The book was published and entitled “How to Do Things With Words”. Speech act is concerned with what interlocutors within a given discourse situation do with words as we can see in the dialogues within the drama text under study. Austin developed three speech acts which include the locutionary act, the illocutionary act and the perlocutionary act. Searle (1975) holds that we use language for a number of things; we tell people how things are, we try to get them to do things, we commit ourselves to doing things, we express our feelings and attitudes and bring about changes in behaviour with utterances. The researcher used speech act theory to analyse selected dialogues in the drama text. Based on the findings, the researcher made the following recommendations; Teachers should create awareness on the teaching and learning of speech act theory. Students should be motivated to develop interest in speech acts, curriculum planners should include speech act theory in the curriculum and government should provide textbooks on speech act theory to students.