CONTRAST LINGUISTIC STUDIES OF SETSWANA AND CHINESE: FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF GRAMMATICAL CASES AND INTER-LANGUAGE

Abstract

Rising needs of mutual language learning between Botswana and China show that there is
currently a huge knowledge gap in the contrast studies between Chinese and Setswana,
especially in terms of grammatical cases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the
lexical and grammatical commonalities between Setswana and Chinese (SC) and its effects
on Batswana Students in second language (L2) acquisition and to develop a pedagogical
framework that is effective in L2 classroom. By using surveys and quantitative analysis as the
primary research methods, this study analysed the test results of students from Chinese
Studies Program (CSP) and measured these results through an accuracy model conducted in
1995. Based on a review of the literature on the contrastive studies of languages and analysis
of surveys, this study concludes that complex interactions between the similar grammatical
cases and different usages in each language can negatively impact the output and acquisition
of Setswana speakers. Further studies are needed to probe into other aspects that can improve
the effectiveness of Chinese learning for Batswana students.