Deviations in the use of English articles by Amharic Speakers and Tigrigna speakers-freshmen of Asmara University: their causes and Pedagogical Implications

Tecle Ghebremuse

Abstract

This research article investigates the extent of the correct uses of English articles by Amhari speakers and Tigrigna speakers who studied English as a foreign language. Data were collected from 160 students through a test on English articles. The low scores may have been resulted from the unavailability of adequate grammar and supplementary reading books. It is possible to infer that the errors are the results from intralingual interference. The results show the descending order of deviations in the use of „a‟, „the‟, an‟ to the „null‟ article. The Amharic speakers performed better than the Tigrigna speakers in the „null‟ article while the Tigrigna speakers outperformed the Amharic speakers in the uses of „the‟, „a‟, and „an‟, articles. The order of difficulties in the use of articles in increasing are: retrospective reference, immediate surrounding, the use of superlative forms and with phrases or clauses. With respect to socio-psychological information, the Tigrigna speakers used more English than the Amharic speakers.