Influence of L1 Pashto on English Speaking Proficiency among University Students

Abstract

This research examines, in the academic setting of Riphah International University, how the first language, Pashto, influences students' proficiency in speaking English. No doubt, English is considered an important tool for success both academically and professionally; however, Pashto-speaking students face some specific challenges which result in an inability to achieve fluency in spoken English. This research investigates to what extent a Pashto linguistic background influences the acquisition of English-speaking proficiency. While earlier research looked at the general influence of L1 interference, limited studies have outlined the phonological and grammatical features of Pashto which may impede the process of acquiring English as a second language in private university settings. In return for this research gap, self-designed questionnaires with five-point Likert scale were distributed among undergraduate students, the data was analysed to find the pattern of language transfer regarding pronunciation, grammatical structure, sentence formation, etc. Results show that L1 Pashto has a regular interference impact on English speaking, specifically errors on tense usage and phonological errors. The present study extends the available literature on the linguistic problems of a bilingual learner and provides key lessons from the language instructors' points of view. It identifies the need for consideration of the learners' linguistic background in devising focused teaching strategies aimed at speaking English competence