A Contrastive Analysis of Possessive Adjectives in English and Nupe Languages: Implications for Curriculum Development

Abstract

Languages differ in various aspects such as phonology, syntax, morphology and semantics. Nupe and English languages are not exceptions. These differences tend to affect Nupe speakers as they learn English as second language. This paper carries out a contrastive analysis of possessive adjectives in Nupe and English languages. It takes a critical look at the different facets of adjectives in English and compares them with what obtains in Nupe language. This analysis gives a clearer picture of the similarities and differences in possessive adjectives in the two languages. The major point of similarity discovered is the fact that possessive adjectives modify nouns in the two languages as well as in the concept of the plurality of the possessed. The differences are however many and are likely to pose learning difficulties to the learners. The paper therefore offers worthwhile recommendations for effective teaching and learning of possessive adjectives in particular and English grammar in general to not only Nupe learners of English but all learners of English as second language.