THE INCONSISTENCIES OF ENGLISH SPELLING AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING
ABSTRACT
This study investigates the difficulties faced by Igbo second language learners of English spelling. It propose solutions to students’ learning problems in order to improve the teaching and learning of English spelling in second language situation. The study revolves around the history of English spelling. The study also shows that English is ridiculous, deceptive, and inconsistent as a result of borrowing from other languages. The inconsistency between spelling and pronunciation in English is because there is no one to one correspondence between graphemes and Phonemes.
A sample of one hundred students from a population of four secondary schools in Nnewi North local government Area was used. Data was collected through dictation test. The analysis was based on four type of error: omission, addition. double marking and misordering.
The inconsistencies of English spelling also have a lot of implication in the students’ learning process with a marked evidence of unintelligibility and defective pronunciation.