Patterns of English Article Use by L1 Swahili-speaking Learners of EFL in Tanzania

Abstract

Using English articles correctly is noticeably difficult for non-native speakers ofthe language. Several competing perspectives attempt to address suchdifficulty. Whereas some perspectives hold that non-target-like performance onarticles stems from learners accessing both the definiteness and specificitysettings of the Article Choice Parameter, others hold that such performancestems from misanalysing English articles as adjectives. This debatenecessitates further research. Accordingly, this paper sets out to determinewhich non-target-like aspects €“between substitution and omission ones €“ L1Swahili-speaking learners are producing more, whether their substitution ofarticles stems from accessing both definiteness and specificity settings, andwhether their omission of articles results from misanalysing English articles asadjectives. Thirty-five learners of English participated in a picture descriptiontask. Results indicate that they substitute articles more frequently thanomitting them. They also fluctuate between definiteness and specificity. Thedata do not provide evidence for misanalysing English articles as adjectives.