CROSS-LINGUISTIC STUDY OF TENSE AND ASPECT IN ENGLISH AND KHANA LANGUAGES

Abstract

Whenever there are conflicting language specific rules inherent in two languages, there is bound to be a learning problem. Thus, this study contrasted conflicting tense and aspectual features of the English and Khana languages with the aim of ascertaining potential problems Khana users of the English language may experience as they learn the English language. This study is theoretically anchored on Chomsky’s Minimalist Program and Lado’s Contrastive Analysis. The methodology was descriptive. Data which were predominantly primary were supplied and translated by native speakers of Khana. Findings revealed the overt, elaborate and complicated nature of the English tense and aspectual features against the rather covert nature of Khana. The dissimilarities hamper the Khana/English bilinguals’ proficiency in speech and writing. This study, therefore, recommends among other things that teachers of the English language should plan lessons in a way that areas that constitute problems in the target language as a result of the dissimilarities between the target and native languages are given better attention. This study concluded that a cross-linguistic study such as this is a crucial panacea that uncovers the hidden secrets behind the unending linguistic challenges of non-native speakers of the English language.