DefinePK

Abstract

This paper examined, using students of Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria as case study, translation as a significant phenomenon in the Igbo language native speaker’s use of English as a second language. The purpose was to identify the manners of such translation, and the possible motivations. A total of two hundred and four (204) students admitted into the School of Health Technology of the University for the 2020/2021 academic year formed the sample population. The method of data collection was purposive as the authors paid particular attention to instances of direct translation as they manifested in the students’ discussions and interactions. The students were not subjected to any form of controlled environment, but rather, the authors as lecturers of the selected students engaged in direct observation of the students in their social interactions as well as formal class discussions. The items of expressions extracted as data were subjected to evaluation with the aim of identifying incidences and manner of direct translation from Igbo language structure to the English language structure, as well as their possible sources of motivation. Thus, the method of data analysis was qualitative. The paper adopted the theoretical approach of word-for-word translation or metaphrasing. The findings of the paper include that the affected students think in the source language (SL) before translating their thoughts into the target language (TL). What is experienced as TL structures follows from the SL structures that exist in the mental resources of the students. The paper, therefore, concludes that direct translation can be deceptive to the second language learner because it may not contain obvious instances of structural rule deficiency but can be faulted along functional lane, where it manifests instances of redundancy, and vocabulary deficiency.  Consequently, the authors recommend among others that the L2 teacher should extend his/ her teaching efforts towards identifying the possible motivation a student’s direct translation in order to guide him or her out of it, especially, the students who may need the language beyond its L2 environment, or beyond mere language of social expression.