Effects of Kenyan Sign Language on Acquisition Of
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EFFECTS OF KENYAN SIGN LANGUAGE ON ACQUISITION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE: A STUDY OF ESAGERI SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, MOGOTIO, BARINGO COUNTY, KENYA BY ABEL KILANYA E55/20132/2010 A RESEARCH THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF EDUCATION (SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION) IN THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY JANUARY, 2016 ii DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other university. Signature:……………………………………Date:……………..…………………… Abel Kilanya E55/20132/2010 Department of Special Needs Education This thesis has been submitted with our approval as the University Supervisors Signature:………………………………….... Date:……………………………… Dr. Beatrice Bunyasi Awori Department of Special Needs Education Kenyatta University Signature:………………………………….... Date:……………………………… Prof. Gathogo Mukuria Department of Psychology University of Nairobi iii DEDICATION To my dear wife Jane Kipkech and children Mercy Jepkoech, Stella Jelagat and Faith Kimonda. Thank you for your love and support throughout this study. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to acknowledge the contributions of several people who played a significant role in the successful completion of this master’s thesis. My special thanks go to my supervisors Dr. Beatrice Bunyasi and Professor Gathogo Mukuria for their invaluable support and technical advice which was instrumental in bringing this work to its present status. My sincere gratitude goes to Dr. Michael Ivita for availing his expertise at the initial stages of this work. I express my appreciation to the principals of Esageri and Iten schools for the Deaf for facilitating the collection of data. Special thanks to James Sagala who at one point acted as my research assistant. Special thanks to all my friends and colleagues for their encouragement during my study and Eunice who assisted me in typesetting and other computer services. I also sincerely thank the Teachers’ Service Commission for granting me study leave. Special thanks to my family for providing me love, encouragement and inspiration. Last but not least, I sincerely thank God for giving me the gift of life, energy and health to pursue my studies. v TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ................................................................................................................ ii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ x ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .......................................................................... xi ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background to the Study ............................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem .............................................................................................. 4 1.2.1 Purpose of the Study .................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Objectives of the Study ................................................................................................. 5 1.4 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................. 5 1.6 Limitations and Delimitation ........................................................................................ 6 1.6.1 Limitations ................................................................................................................. 6 1.6.2 Delimitations .............................................................................................................. 6 1.7 Assumptions .................................................................................................................. 6 1.8 Theoretical and Conceptual Framework ....................................................................... 7 1.8.1 Theoretical Framework .............................................................................................. 7 1.8.2 Conceptual Framework .............................................................................................. 8 1.9 Operational Definition of Terms ................................................................................. 10 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................... 12 2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 12 2.1 Kenyan Sign Language and English Grammatical Structures .................................... 12 2.2 Effects of Kenyan Sign Language on English acquisition.......................................... 16 2.3 Integration of Kenyan Sign Language and English Language ................................... 19 2.3.1 The Manual Approach (Manualism) ........................................................................ 21 2.3.2 Bilingualism ............................................................................................................. 22 2.3.3 Oral/Aural Approach ............................................................................................... 23 2.3.4 Signed English- Written English Approach ............................................................. 24 vi 2.4 Implication of Kenyan Sign Language on English Among Learners with Hearing Impairments ................................................................................................................ 25 2.5 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................... 28 3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 28 3.1 Research Design.......................................................................................................... 28 3.1.1 Variables .................................................................................................................. 28 3.2 Location of the Study .................................................................................................. 29 3.3 Target Population ........................................................................................................ 29 3.4 Sampling Techniques and Sample Size ...................................................................... 29 3.4.1 Sampling Technique ................................................................................................ 29 3.4.2 Sample Size .............................................................................................................. 30 3.5 Research Instruments .................................................................................................. 30 3.5.1 Questionnaires.......................................................................................................... 31 3.5.2 Observation Checklist .............................................................................................. 31 3.5.3 Interview Guide ....................................................................................................... 31 3.6 Pilot Study ................................................................................................................... 32 3.6.1 Validity .................................................................................................................... 32 3.6.2 Reliability ................................................................................................................. 32 3.7 Data Collection Techniques ........................................................................................ 33 3.8 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................. 33 3.9 Logistical and Ethical Considerations ........................................................................ 34 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS ...... 35 4.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 35 4.1 Demographic Information of the Respondents ........................................................... 35 4.1.1 Duration of Training Obtained................................................................................. 41 4.2 Kenyan Sign Language and English Grammatical Structures .................................... 41 4.3.1 Kenyan Sign Language Grammatical Structure Influence on English Language Acquisition .................................................................................................................. 43 4.3.2 Code-Switching to KSL from English Language ...................................................