Linguistics

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Browsing Linguistics by Author "Abebe G/Tsadik"

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    Exploring Challenges Linguistic Minority Learners Experience in Multilingual Classrooms
    (Addis Ababa University, 2016-03) Abera Admassu ; Abebe G/Tsadik
    This study aims to investigate how primary schools in Arba Minch address children with diverse linguistic background, in this study referred as linguistic minority students. It is founded on the premises of sociology of education which is considered essential to address the education of linguistic minority learners. More specifically, this study analyzed, through the application of Bourdieu’s notions of ‘linguistic capital’ and Cummins’ ‘interdependence hypothesis’ theory. The study used a mixed method concurrent design, and data were collected using questionnaires, tests, interviews, observation checklists, fieldnotes and document examination. The study revealed that linguistic minority learners have encountered challenges owing to their limited L2 proficiency. The finding also showed that the children used non-linguistic signals, time gaining, codeswitching, appeal for help, use of all-purpose words, and this shows the children were not competent enough in Amharic oral expressions. Besides, it revealed that minority language students experienced difficulties and challenges in negotiating competence and identities, which influence their opportunities for learning. Moreover, teachers indicated negative perceptions towards the inclusion of linguistic minority children, and expressed that linguistic minority children needed to attain a minimum level of Amharic proficiency prior to entering the mainstream classrooms. Recommendations for future research and implications for practice and policy include establishing pre-school programs, providing appropriate training for general education teachers, developing parent engagement programs to facilitate parent-teacher communication and to establish a collaborative working relationship between home and school.
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    The Morphology of Gawwada
    (Addis Ababa University, 2003-06) Geberew Tulu ; Abebe G/Tsadik
    This study is an attempt made to describe and analyze Gawwada morphology. The objective of the thesis is to identify different inflectional and derivational morphemes on selected word classes such as noun, pronoun, adjective and verb, and account for different morphemes and their variants. The thesis consists of five chapters. Chapter one is on the background of the study, which involves information on the language and the people, objective, significance, review of previous work, methodology and limitation of the study. Chapter Two presents some aspects of the phonology of the language, which is believed to be useful in analyzing the morphology of the language. Chapter Three deals with inflections of various grammatical categories such as number, gender, definiteness, case, person, etc, on selected word classes. Chapter Four treats different derivation al affixes of nouns, adjectives, verbs and negative verb formation. Finally, the last chapter gives the summary and conclusion of the thesis.
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    The Morphology of Gawwada
    (Addis Ababa University, 2003-06) Geberew Tulu ; Abebe G/Tsadik
    This study is an attempt made to describe and analyze Gawwada morphology. The objective of the thesis is to identify different inflectional and derivational morphemes on selected word classes such as noun, pronoun, adjective and verb, and account for different morphemes and their variants. The thesis consists of five chapters. Chapter one is on the background of the study, which involves information on the language and the people, objective, significance, review of previous work, methodology and limitation of the study. Chapter Two presents some aspects of the phonology of the language, which is believed to be useful in analyzing the morphology of the language. Chapter Three deals with inflections of various grammatical categories such as number, gender, definiteness, case, person, etc, on selected word classes. Chapter Four treats different derivational affixes of nouns, adjectives, verbs and negative verb formation. Finally, the last chapter gives the summary and conclusion of the thesis.
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    Readability Level Assessment of Tigrinya Textbook , for Grade four Students
    (Addis Ababa Universiy, 2004-06) Mehari Yimulaw ; Abebe G/Tsadik
    The principal objective of this study was to assess the readability level of Tigrinya textbook for grade four students. For doing so, the readability level of the textbook was computed using the Fog Index readability formula. In order to assess the comprehension level of the target students and the readability of the textbook, three cloze tests were administered to Wofri Selam elementary school fourth grade students. In order to see the possible effect of grade difference on the result, the tests were administered to third and Fifth grade students. Interviews were also conducted with the students to gather their opinions about the textbook's readability level. Finally, readability checklist was used to gather Tigrinya teachers' opinions about the readability of the textbook. The finding from the Fog Index readability formula indicated the textbook IS appropriate for ninth grade students rather than for grade four students. The result of the cloze tests also indicated that the comprehension level of the students (including fifth grade students who took the tests) was at a 'frustration level'. This means that the students couldn't comprehend the textbook even with the help of their teacher. The findings from interviews revealed that the textbook readability level was beyond the learners' level. The interviewees attributed this to presence of long and difficult words and sentences; lack of proper text organization and layout. Finally, the checklist's result also showed that teachers rated the textbook to have fair level of readability. Considering all the findings, it is recommended that the textbook readability level should be lowered to the appropriate level in the coming edition. This can be done by: * Presenting passages centered learners' background, experiential and cultural knowledge. * Supplying enough number of charts, pictures and lists. * Rewriting the passages to make the organization more explicit and relevant for the intended learners. * Replacing difficult words and sentences by those already frequently used and familiar to learners. Replacing difficult words by relatively easier and frequently used ones and avoiding irrelevant details, attempt was made by the present researcher to simplify the first passage used in the study. Accordingly, the passages readability level was lowered to fifth grade and the target students' comprehension level was raised to instructional level. This means that the students can comprehend the text with the help of their teacher. So the simplified passage is recommended as possible sample passage appropriate to the intended grade. F.inally it is also recommended that till the textbook readability level is improved, Tigrinya language teachers should be informed about the readability level of the textbook so that they will take their own measures in simplifying the textbook's contents. This can be done by prepaling a sort of workshop or seminar for the local teachers .
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    Word Formation in Gedeo
    (Addis Ababa University, 2006-05) Eyob Kelemework ; Abebe G/Tsadik
    This paper describes the word formation p r ocesses, i. e . affix ation, compoundi ng, and reduplicatio n, in Gedeo . 1t is organized in six c h a pters . The fir st ch a pter p re sents the in t roductory statemen ts in which the b ack g round, objective, s ignifi can ce, m e thodolo gy, and limitation of th e thesis are stated . In the second chapter, e a rlie r accounts of works o n the phonology and morpho lo gy o f Gedeo, alon g with b ri ef descript io n s of th e people, th e a r ea, a nd the la n guage are discussed . Some theoretical issues of th e present study h ave a lso been tre ated under t his cha pte r. The third chapter deals with affixation in G e deo, where suffixation is the only process to take place . Different suffixe s wi th a categorical status Pf,f Vl f, and Aaf are identifie d in the language, and s e rved to de rive nominal, verbal , and adjectiva l forms. Since suffixes are considere d as heads of deriva tion, based on lexicalists' view, all the d e riv a ti ves 111 Gedeo take the feature of their suffixes by fe a ture p e rcola tion. The fourth_ chapter is concerned with compound fo=ation . About four compound classes, which include compound nouns, verbs, adjectives, a nd ad ver.b:s , are attested in the language. The fifth chapter discusses t he possible reduplication processes in Gedeo, where both partial a nd complete reduplications are identifie d . Finally, chapter six presents a conclusion.