The Case of Unreleased Plosives by Ibibio Speakers of English: A Study of Performance by Undergraduates of Akwa Ibom State University

Abstract

This research investigated the situation of non-release of English plosives by Ibibio speakers of English. Informants in the oral English test comprised ten students of the Department of English, Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria. A list of six sentences containing words whose sounds are plosives was given to the informants to read. Their performances were recorded and played back several times for study and analysis. The students were randomly selected from all the four levels in the first degree English programme of the University. The theoretical bases were Applied Linguistics and Descriptive Linguistics. It was found out that Majority of Ibibio speakers of English have a problem releasing the plosives of English due to the surrounding sounds, position of occurrence, lack of interest and practice in the English plosives as well as mother tongue interference. I concluded that non-release of English plosives is a defective language behavior that can impede understanding and communication. I suggested interest and practice by students in English plosives and more training by lecturers.