A Phonology-based Study: English Pronunciation Inconsistency
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v3i19.4834Abstract
English is not a one-to-one relationship between letters and pronunciation. There is mostly no correspondence between written word and spoken word. English pronunciation inconsistency made EFL learners erroneous while pronouncing. This phonology-based study discussed the English pronunciation inconsistency qualitatively. It identified the inconsistency of vowels and consonants pronounced in words and the areas of English pronunciation inconsistency. This study applied Yule, Finegan, and Kelly’s theories. <a> is sounded as /eI/ /@/ /æ/ /A:/ /O:/ /I/ /6/; <e> is sounded as /i:/ /e/ /@/ /A:/ /u:/; <i> is sounded as /2I/ /I/ /3:/ /A:/; <o> is sounded as /@U/ /6/ /2/ /A:/ /U/ /I/ /@/ /O:/ /w2/; and <u> is sounded as /jU/ /2/ /I/ /@/ /e/ /U@/. <c, d, g, j, n, p, s, t, w, x, y, z> are pronounced inconsistently. <c> is sounded as /s/ /tS/ /k/ /S/; <d> is sounded as /d/ /dZ/ /t/; <g> is sounded as /g/ /dZ/ /f/; <j> is sounded as /dZ/ /h/ /j/; <n> is sounded as /n/ /ŋ/; <p> is sounded as /p/ /f/; <q> is sounded as /k/; <s> is sounded as /s/ /z/ /S/ /Z/; <t> is sounded as /t/ /8/ /ð/ /tS/ /S/; <w> is sounded as /w/ /U/; <x> is sounded as /ks/ /kS/ /gz/ /z/; <y> is sounded as /@/ /i/ /ai/ /j/; and <z> is sounded as /z/ /ts/. The areas of inconstancy in English pronunciation occur in; same letter different sounds; same sound different letters; silent letters; and sound production with no letters.
Keywords:consonants, inconsistency, pronunciation, vowels
References
Ahmadi, M. R., & Gilakjani, A. P.(2011). Why is ponunciation so difficult to learn? , (3), 74–83. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v4n3p74
Ambalegin, & Arianto, T. (2018). English vowels and consonants mispronunciation of the seventh president of Republic of Indonesia in his official English speeches and its influencing factors. (2), 113–128. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.30743/ll.v2i2.678
Ambalegin,Suhardianto,&Kaprawi,N.(2017).Obstaclesfacinglearnersinspeaking English: Non-English teachers’ perspective, Putra Batam School. , (1), 122. Retrieved from http://www.pertanika.upm. edu.my/
Ambalegin, & Suryani, M. S. (2018). Mother tongue affecting the English vowel pronounciation of Batak Toba adults. In (pp. 66, 80). Medan: KnE Social Sciences & Humanities. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v3i4.1920
Carter, R., & Nunan, D. (2001). (1st ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Celce-Murcia, M. (2001). United State of America: Thomson Learning.
Creswell, J. W. (2012). (3rd ed.).
Finegan, E. (2008). America: Thomson Wadsworth.
Finegan, E. (2015). Learning. (4th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education Inc. (Fifth edit). United States of (7th ed.). Stamford: Cengage
Gilakjani, A. P. (2016). English pronunciation instruction: A literature review. , (1), 2. Retrieved from www.ijreeonline.com
Kelly, G. (2004). Retrieved from www.longman.com
Kenworthy, J. (1987).
Ladefoged, P.(2006).
Ladefoged, P., & Disner, S. F. (2012).(3rd ed.). West Sussex: England: Pearson Education Limited. New York: Longman. (5th ed.). Boston: ThomsonWadsworth.Blacwell Publishing Ltd.
Low, E. L. (2015). (1st ed.). New York: Routledge Publishers.
Maiza, N. E. (2014). Pronunciation and comprehension of oral English in the English as a foreign language class: Key aspects, students’ perceptions and proposals. , (2), 262–273. https://doi.org/104304/jltr52262-273
McMahon, A. (2002).Edinburgh: Edinburgh Universiy Press. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1159/000328775
Roach, P. (2012). (4th ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Sudaryanto. (2015). Wacana University Press. . Yogyakarta: Duta
Yule, G. (2014). (5th ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.
