university of cape coast influence des éléments syntaxiques anglais

UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST
INFLUENCE DES ÉLÉMENTS SYNTAXIQUES ANGLAIS SUR
L’ÉCRIT DES APPRENANTS DU FRANÇAIS LANGUE
ÉTRANGÈRE (FLE) AU GHANA. LE CAS DE QUELQUES ÉCOLES
SECONDAIRES DANS LA MÉTROPOLE DE CAPE COAST
JONAS KWABLA FIADZAWOO
2010

UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST
INFLUENCE DES ÉLÉMENTS SYNTAXIQUES ANGLAIS SUR
L’ÉCRIT DES APPRENANTS DU FRANÇAIS LANGUE ÉTRANGÈRE
(FLE) AU GHANA. LE CAS DE QUELQUES ÉCOLES SECONDAIRES
DANS LA MÉTROPOLE DE CAPE COAST
BY
JONAS KWABLA FIADZAWOO
Thesis presented to the Department of French, Faculty of Arts, University of
Cape Coast in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Award of Master of
Philosophy Degree in French
MAY, 2010

DECLARATION
Candidate’s Declaration
I hereby declare that this thesis is the result of my own original work and that no
part of it has been presented for another degree in this University or elsewhere.
Candidate’s Signature…………………………… Date……………………
Name: JONAS KWABLA FIADZAWOO
Supervisors’ Declaration
We hereby declare that the preparation and presentation of the thesis were
supervised in accordance with the guidelines on supervision of thesis laid down
by the University of Cape Coast.
Principal Supervisor’s Signature ………………………… Date…………………
Name: D. D. KUUPOLE (PROF.)
Co-Supervisor’s Signature………………………………. Date…………………..
Name: ALEXANDER KWAWU (MR.)
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ABSTRACT
Ghana after her independence adopted English Language as the official language
of the country. English therefore enjoys the highest status more than other Ghanaian
Languages since it is widely used as medium of communication in any national
activities in jurisdiction, legislation, Government policy information and in the press.
More so, despite the country being multilingual, English serves as the instructional
language in our schools right from primary to tertiary. It is also the language in which
major examinations are conducted. Dominant by status as it is over other Ghanaian
Languages, English tends to have much influence in the written French of some
students in Senior High Schools (SHS). The problem becomes much aggravated, as
some grammatical notions especially concord in English are not similarly applicable
in French. These phenomena have been the source of some of the major errors in
French Grammar or syntax committed by students, hence a serious concern for West
African Examination Council and the teachers of the language alike.
In this study, our attention is focused on three grammatical elements or parts of
speech common to both languages namely: possessive adjectives, articles (definite
and indefinite) and past participle. The study, based on tests conducted on third year
students of some S.H.S. in the Metropolis of Cape Coast, reveals that students do
commit many grammatical errors in written French due to some similarities and
differences in both languages. These errors are committed not only as result of
negative transfer of knowledge of English into French but also because of students’
inadequate knowledge of the target language. The thesis ends with useful pedagogical
suggestions that can help minimize the problem.
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REMERCIEMENTS
Nous tenons à exprimer notre très profonde gratitude à notre directeur de
mémoire Professeur Domwin D. KUUPOLE, qui a dirigé cette recherche avec
autant de patience et de vigilance malgré ses nombreux engagements
pédagogiques et administratifs. Ses conseils infiniment précieux et féconds, ses
encouragements tout au long de notre travail, ont été pour nous d’un prix
inestimable.
Nous tenons à remercier également notre directeur adjoint, M. Alexander
KWAWU pour ses suggestions importantes et pour sa patience.
Nous sommes aussi reconnaissant à M. Kofi Tsivanyo YIBOE et M. Anthony
De-SOUZA, qui nous ont fourni des documents importants et qui ne cessent
jamais de nous encourager depuis le début du programme.
Nous savons particulièrement gré à M. Edem BAKAH pour avoir accepté
volontiers de parcourir la première partie du travail et pour ses suggestions qui ont
aidé à améliorer le travail.
Nous remercions aussi M. Anthony NYANE, M. Mawuyra GLI, M. Baba
HARUNA et tous les enseignants au Département de français pour leur aide et
leur soutien moral.
Nous tenons à remercier vivement nos collègues: M. Ben BARDIS, M. Emil
KONTEVI et Mme Esiyah ATSU qui n’ont pas cessé de prier pour le groupe.
Enfin, aux membres de notre famille, surtout nos parents et Foh James Atsu
Hatoh les plus spéciaux dans notre vie, nous disons: Mawu nena miano agbe aƒo
wo de adu nu.
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