Abstract
This study attempts a critical survey on the grammatical inadequacies that have plagued the performances of second language users/learners of the English language in the Use of English course and the resultant effect of these shortcomings on the educational systems, a package of problems traceable to lack of proficiency in the area of concord. To achieve this purpose, five departments were selected from the six departments of the faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus and 150 students (30 from each department) were selected by stratified random sampling technique from a total of 673 students of year 1, direct entry years 2 and 3 as well as carry forward students of years 2 and 3 of the five departments selected. The theoretical frameworks employed for this study are the Surface Strategy Taxonomy and Comparative Taxonomy.
The instrument for data collection was Objective Test, thoroughly supervised to ensure validity; fifty objective questions on concord were administered on the sample, and the data collected were analysed, using ‘80’ as the standard mean for competence. The result reveals that the subjects’ ‘over all’ mean score of 44.2, fell below the standard, denoting lack of competence in the area of concord. As a result of the findings, it was concluded that the subjects find it difficult to come to terms with the number disparity between the subjects and the verbs due, largely, due to the non adherence to the subject-verb rules while the other various exceptional rules are disregarded. Recommendations were made, one of which is a call for a review of the present language curriculum to include extensive and exhaustive topics on concord principles and other verb- related topics in order to attain improved level of attention on these areas in order to bridge the Gap between Teaching and Research for a Reflective Nigerian Society.
