Future-time markers in expressing English future time by Sesotho L1 speakers

Abstract

The expression of future time in the English language seems to lack uniformity. The lack of consistency is influenced by speakers’ intentions, so these various ways of marking future time in English pose a challenge to second-language (L2) learners. Therefore, this article investigates first-language (L1) Sesotho speakers’ ways of expressing English future time within the basic linguistic theory framework. It further seeks to identify factors influencing the students’ formation of future-time expressions. In this qualitative study, data was collected through 30 written compositions by third-year Linguistics students at the National University of Lesotho. The study reveals that L1 Sesotho speakers mark English future time through will and shall. They also use the phrasal markers such as want to, have to, hope to, be going to, be supposed to, be about to, will + be + PROGRESSIVE, will + have + PERFECT PARTICIPLE and will + have + been, which they use appropriately. Would + be, would + progressive, would + have + PERFECT PARTICIPLE are also used but incorrectly. The article further demonstrates that they use would erroneously to express English future time. In addition, Sesotho, by virtue of having equivalents of some of these markers, influenced the students’ formation of future-time expressions. Therefore, L1 interference plays a great part in L2 learning. The study concludes that the use of will is more dominant than shall because even British English, which was known for the common use of shall has started to shift and to lose this distinction like American English has done.