A Contrastive Study on Relativization in English and Kurdish Language with Respect to Grammar

Grammar Relativization is a cross-linguistic phenomenon. That is, it can be found in many world languages. It may, and does, take different surface forms in different languages. For example in English, which has S V O order, relativization is a post-nominal. In Persian and Kurdish the order is S O V. This study addresses the relativization process in English and Kurdish. Considerable attention is also paid to the typology of relativization, and its repercussions on the grammar. Relativization constructions have received much attention by linguists, and not without reason. They are highly interesting from a syntactic, typological, and semantic point of view. A relative pronoun may be the overt counterpart of the empty element. If a relative pronoun is used, it must be fronted within the relative. Anyhow, the basic aim behind the current report was comparing relativization between English and Kurdish languages by comparing various sentences expressed holding relative pronoun in them. The present research was conducted in Ilam city in the west of Iran. To this end, sixty Iranian intermediate EFL learners were invited in this study. Their performance on the pretest and posttest in both experimental and control groups has been taken into account. Based on a pretest composed of vocabulary and grammar test the study sample was distributed into two equal classes. The first class group represented the experimental group totaling (30) students taught through Relativization in English and Kurdish Language with Respect to Grammar strategy within the course of developing grammar in the academic year 2014, and the second represents the control group totaling (30) students. The instruments of this study were a program to use Relativization in English and Kurdish Language after a pre and before a post-test. Both validity and reliability were checked by the researcher. The findings of the study after conducting the posttest revealed that there are statistical significant differences at the level of (α= 0.05) between the experimental group and the control group in the total score in the favor of the experimental group indicating the effectiveness of using Relativization in English and Kurdish in developing grammar. The results of the Analysis of Covariance revealed that the instruction of Relativization in English and Kurdish Language had a positive effect on EFL learners’ grammar achievements.