DEVIATIONS IN THE USE OF ENGLISH AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: THE CASE STUDY OF PENTECOST UNIVERSITY COLLEGE AND REGENT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ACCRA

ABSTRACT

This is a qualitative case study that analysed common deviations made by the Level 400 students of the Pentecost University College and the Regent University College of Science and Technology in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The data used for the analysis comprised students’ written test. From this, a total of 3060 deviations or errors were identified. Three categories of deviations were identified and they include morphological deviations (additions of words, omission, misformation of words), grammatical deviations (open and closed class systems) namely, wrong use of adjectives, nouns, verbs, pronouns, prepositions and correlative conjunctions, other grammatical deviations (concord errors, of clause, reported speech, wrong use of passive voice, wrong use of subjunctive case, wrong use of question tags and conditional sentence) and semantic deviations (punctuations and the use of tautology) in English. The result of the present study shows that morphological deviations was the highest number of deviations recorded in the students’ test, with a total of 960 representing 31%. Second on the hierarchy was grammatical deviation of the open class system with a total of 720 deviations representing 23.5%.Third highest were other grammatical deviations (concord errors, of clause, reported speech, question tags, and conditional sentence) with a total of 660 denoting 21.5%. The fourth highest was grammatical deviation of closed class system with a total of 540 deviations representing 18% while semantic deviations were the least on the hierarchy with 180 deviations representing 6%. Based on the findings of the study, causes of deviations in students’ writing were identified as fossilization, L1 interference on the teaching/learning of English (L2), ignorance of rule restrictions, overgeneralization and unlearning on the part of students. Some suggestions are made to various stakeholders to ensure effective teaching and learning of the English Language in Ghanaian universities.