A Lexico-Syntactic Analysis Of Errors In Selected Yoruba Film Subtitled In English

Project and Seminar Material for English Language

Abstract

Language is learned and shred, it is an arbitrary system of vocal symbols through which human beings in the same speech community interact, thereby communicate. Errors in communication can be inhibitions towards effective communication and decoding of messages. This research sets out to carry out an error analysis on some selected Yoruba films subtitled in English. Errors were lifted from four Yoruba films subtitled in English and were numbered as attested in each film. Error analysis was then carried out on them. i.e the errors were identified, classified into their types, explain why such errors were made and corrections were proffered where necessary. The research found out that the major causes of these errors were inter-lingual and intra-lingual transfer. The research also found out that errors can cause a break-down in communication in Yoruba films to non-Yoruba viewers and in general. From these findings, the research project submitted that some of the errors that occur in Yoruba film subtitled in English are capable of causing inhibitions in the proper understanding of the message embedded in these Yoruba films to non-Yorubaviewers.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Syntax is a technical name of the branch of linguistics is concerned with the ways which words can be combined together to form phrases and sentences. It deals with the principles that determine the ways in which we can and cannot combine words together to form phrases and sentences.

Lexicon is derived from the word “Lexicon” which means words. Lexicon-syntactic is a term that could be divided into Lexicon and Syntax. In other words, Lexicon-Syntactic is a term that means words and how they (the words) come together to form phrases and sentences.

1.2 Errors

Errors are demonstrations of incompetence, people often take errors and mistakes to mean the same phenomenon, but mistakes are different from errors. Mistakes have to do with slips and other sights which the person making one can correct on his/her own if looked at again.

1.3. Yoruba Films

Yoruba films also known as Yoruba home videos have been in existence for many decades in Nigeria. The Yoruba language, with over 25 million speakers, is one of the three major languages in Nigeria. It is spoken in the Western part of Nigeria. The language has different ethnicity in different Yoruba speaking communities.

Yoruba films serve and are indeed detaining to not just Yoruba speakers alone but to others from different cultures in genera (i.e. Yoruba films not just entertain, they also educate as a lot relating to our lives and the society at large in terms of socio cultural, religion, economy, gender etc can be learnt form these Yoruba films. They also portray the rich Yoruba culture which viewers can learn and benefit from.

Films according to advanced learners’ dictionary area series of moving pictures, usually shown in a cinema or on television and often telling a story.

1.4 Purpose of the Study

The research intends to carry out an error analysis some of the Errors made in some selected Yoruba films subtitled in English the research will do the following.

Identity the errors
Classify these errors into their types.
Explain why these errors are made.
Treat the errors i.e. proper the corrections to those errors.

1.5 Scope of the Study

This reproach work titled a Lexicon-syntactic Analysis aims at identifying, classifying, explaining and then treating these errors identified. This research will only be limited to the sentences only.

1.6 Justification

This research work is embarked on because of the researcher’s interest in making corrections to some of these errors encountered while watching some of these Yoruba films. These research work will also explain why some of these errors are made thereby making viewers of these films understand why some of these errors are made. The research will also serve an a guideline to students who endeavour to carry out researches related to the topic in the future.

1.7 Methodology

In carrying out an error analysis for this project work, the data that will be used are four selected Yoruba films subtitled in English. Sentences perceived to be errors will be lifted while watching the films. Then, the erromous sentences lifted in each film will be numbered, error analysis would be carried out on each of the sentences, i.e. the errors would be identified, described into their types, explained or explanation would be given for occurrence of such errors and the correct sentences would be preferred.

The chapter has done a little introduction and background to the variables constituting the research topic. It has also stated the purpose, scope, justification and the methods of the research project. Next we move to the next chapter which is the review of literature of the research work.

Chapter Four

Summary, Finding and Conclusion

4.0 Summary

The project work in chapter one has been able to give a general introduction and background to the variables constituting the research work, it has stated the purpose, scope, justification and the methods of the research work.
The project work in chapter two gave a literature review on the variables constituting the research work which includes definitions of these variables i.e. Lexis, Syntax, Emirs, Error analysis, types of errors and the Yoruba film in Nigeria.

The project work on chapter three presented the data for the project work which are erroneous sentences lifted from four (4) different Yoruba films subtitled in English while watching. Also, in chapter three, the researcher classified these errors into their types, the researcher also explained what may have been the causes of these errors and also proffered the sentence found to be correct to these erroneous sentences.

4.1 Findings

The researcher has classified the data i.e. erroneous sentences into their various types and from these classification, the researcher found out in chapter three that the error with the highest occurrence was tense errors with the mean value of 4, followed by concord errors with the mean value of 2, then was overgeneralization with the mean value of 1.75 then was error of omission also with the mean value of 1.75 then error of addition with the mean value of 1.25.
The researcher found out that also, that transfer errors, errors of misinformation, spelling errors, pluralization, errors of misselection and error of misordering were the least occurred errors with the mean values of 1, 0.5, 0.5, 0.25, 0.25, 0.25 respectively.

The researcher also found out that the sources of most of the errors that occurred in Yoruba films may be interlingua transfer which is cause by the speaker’s first language which in this case is Yoruba while some may be cases of interlingua transfers, some may be due to non-mastery of the English language use while some were just cases of lips and oversights.

The researcher also found out that it is possible for errors to create inhibitions to the proper understanding of meaning embedded in Yoruba films to non-Yoruba viewers. An instance cited in the data is; “Woman have no heaven” which in Yoruba is “Obinrin o lorun”. This was subtitled in English in one of the films as “Women have no heaven”. A non-Yoruba viewers watching this film would be lots and not understand why someone would say “Women have no heaven”. He/she would not understand that the speaker meant to say: “Women can’t make it to heaven or “Woman won’t get to heaven”.

4.2 Conclusion:

In conclusion, we could say that interlingua transfers are majorly the sources of errors in Yoruba films subtitled in English.

Also, as language is for communication, errors found in languages may impede proper communication which to some extent has been manifested in some of the Yoruba films subtitled in English to non-Yoruba viewers.

We have successfully carried out an error analysis on some selected Yoruba films subtitled in English and also have been able to explain the causes and sources of these errors. We have also been able to give or proper the sentence found to be the correction to these erroneous sentences.

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