Problem Areas Nonnative Speakers of English Often Have with Pronunciation and How to Overcome These Problems
INTRODUCTION
Pronunciation is an essential part of language. According to Fries (1945), the main problem in learning a new language is not the vocabulary but it is instead the mastery of the sound system, which is to understand the stream of speech and to hear distinctive sound features. Pronunciation is important to avoid misunderstandings when communicating. It is seen as a prerequisite for the development of speaking skill (Celce-Murcia & Goodwin, 1991). Pronunciation, according to Microsoft Encarta 2007, means “the way in which a sound, word, or language is articulated, especially in conforming to an accepted standard”. According to Hinofotis and Bailey (1981, as cited by Celce-Murcia and Goodwin, 1991), one will not be able to communicate orally with bad pronunciation of words. This paper will discuss three problem areas nonnative speakers of English often have with pronunciation and how to overcome these problems. Nonnative speakers of English here refer to people whose first language is not English. The three problem areas identified are problems in sounds or phonemes, stress and intonation.
SOUNDS (PHONEMES) The first problem area that will be discussed here is related to sounds or phonemes, and the production of sounds in the English language. Nonnative speakers often use their first language as a starting point in learning a new language. On account of this, they may have problems producing sounds of English words due to the lack of certain English phonemes in the first language’s sound system. When a nonnative speaker is introduced to these new phonemes, it may be difficult for the person to get used to the phonemes.
The use of the first language as a guideline to learning English also limits how phonemes are produced or heard. As a result, they would not be able to distinguish different pronunciations (French-Fuller, 1999). For example, a Spanish speaker of English will not be able to differentiate between /b/ and /v/ because they are both
Pronunciation is an essential part of language. According to Fries (1945), the main problem in learning a new language is not the vocabulary but it is instead the mastery of the sound system, which is to understand the stream of speech and to hear distinctive sound features. Pronunciation is important to avoid misunderstandings when communicating. It is seen as a prerequisite for the development of speaking skill (Celce-Murcia & Goodwin, 1991). Pronunciation, according to Microsoft Encarta 2007, means “the way in which a sound, word, or language is articulated, especially in conforming to an accepted standard”. According to Hinofotis and Bailey (1981, as cited by Celce-Murcia and Goodwin, 1991), one will not be able to communicate orally with bad pronunciation of words. This paper will discuss three problem areas nonnative speakers of English often have with pronunciation and how to overcome these problems. Nonnative speakers of English here refer to people whose first language is not English. The three problem areas identified are problems in sounds or phonemes, stress and intonation.
SOUNDS (PHONEMES) The first problem area that will be discussed here is related to sounds or phonemes, and the production of sounds in the English language. Nonnative speakers often use their first language as a starting point in learning a new language. On account of this, they may have problems producing sounds of English words due to the lack of certain English phonemes in the first language’s sound system. When a nonnative speaker is introduced to these new phonemes, it may be difficult for the person to get used to the phonemes.
The use of the first language as a guideline to learning English also limits how phonemes are produced or heard. As a result, they would not be able to distinguish different pronunciations (French-Fuller, 1999). For example, a Spanish speaker of English will not be able to differentiate between /b/ and /v/ because they are both