WORD RECOGNITION AND PRONUNCIATION: A BASIS FOR READING COMPREHENSION AMONG NOMADIC PUPILS IN LANBATA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

Dr. BELLO, Yekeen

Abstract

This study examined word recognition and pronunciation as a fundamental spec for reading comprehension among nomadic pupils in Lambata, Kwali Local Government Area of Abuja. The study is quantitative descriptive in nature. A passage from where words for recognition, pronunciation and comprehension reading was given to two experts in the English Studies department of Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria for content validity. Test re-test method was used after three weeks of the first administration of the instrument. Two scores were analysed using Pearson r, yielding 0.64 reliability index at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The population for the study is all the primary 3 pupils of nomadic primary schools in Lambata, Kwali Local Government Area, Abuja. Stratified random sampling technique was used to pick 10 pupils from each of the three nomadic primary schools. Pupils’ word recognition, pronunciation, reading speed and reading comprehension were computed. The finding of the analyses indicates that for (word recognition and pronunciation) WRP, 21 participants had 56 correct WRP representing 46.67% at instruction level, 6 participants had 81 correct WRP representing 67.5% at independent level while 3 participants had 38 correct WRP representing 31.67 were considered at frustration level. Also, for (reading speed) RS, 19 participants had 19 word per minute representing 51.67% which as regarded as average, 3 participants had 39 Wpm representing 32.5% which is regarded as slow while only 8 participants had 9 Wpm representing 7.5% which is regarded as the slowest. The study therefore recommended among others that constant campaign should be carried out among the Fulani about the needs and impotence of Western Education.