Investigating Difficulties Encountered by Sudanese University Students in Using English Affixation

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the difficulties of using affixation among EFL students. To identify the most problematic area in using affixes in English language encountered by undergraduate students in using prefixes or suffixes. Also to will help students to distinguish between word stem and affixes which help them in communication and writing skills and to enable them knowing and recognizing the rules of affixes addition. The researcher adopted a descriptive analytical method to describe the current issue and analyze the collected data. A test was used as a tool for data collection, the sample of the study consisted of 40 students drawn from Almashrig University of Science and Technology, Department of IT. The data were analyzed by using the statistical package of social studies program SPSS which provided percentage results for the test. The study came up with the following important results: first year students encountered difficulties in using affixes. First year students encountered difficulties in recognizing roots of words, first year student's encountered difficulties in adding appropriate prefixes according to some addition rules of affixes. At the end of the study the researcher presented some important recommendations and suggestions for further readings.