An analysis of Phonetic Interferences on students' English Pronunciation in Shobahul Lughoh Program of Ma'had Sunan Ampel Al Aly

ABSTRACT

The phonetics interference occurs since some languages have relationship; the similarity of feature among some languages is the reason why such interference can be occurred. It can be seen from the students’ English pronunciation in the conversations or communications, especially the Javanese students in Shobahul Lughoh Program who learn foreign language, mainly English. The Phonetic changes are usually studied in the case of mutual influence of various languages upon each other. The learners of foreign language are normally aware that there is interference from their language English pronunciation production.

To answer the problems, the researcher adopts some theoretical viewpoints on the field of the phonetics deviation, in the area of segmental sounds which consists of vowel, consonants, and diphthong. The researcher applies a qualitative descriptive study in the research design. The data was gathered by observing and listening the conversations comprehensively, then transcribing and converting into phonetic transcription.

The finding shows that the interferences in segmental features happened by changing one consonant sound to other consonants which have a close feature deal with state of the cord, place and manner of articulation, they are the changes of the sound [v] to [f], the sound [ð] to [d] or [t], the sound of [θ] to [t], the sound of [t∫] to [c], the sound of [z] to [s], and the sound of [dʒ] to [j]. However, the pronunciation of [ʃ] and [r] have not become such interference recently. Another deviation is vowel length, which is decreasing or omitting the length of vowel, such as [ɑː], [uː], [iː], and [ɔː]. Next deviation is monophthongisation of [eɪ],
[əʊ], and [aʊ]. The last is inserting some vowels, for instance [ [ə]. Those students
who are Javanese speaker cannot pronounce the standard of English Phonetics since there are several sounds do not exist in Javaese but exist in English. Those sounds are consonant [ð], [ʧ], [θ], diphthong [eɪ], [əʊ], and [aʊ]. Otherwise, there are three identical Javanese sound not found in English, they are consonant [c], [j], and pure vowel [o].

It is suggested for the next researchers to explore more on some uncovered discussions about segmental or suprasegmental interference such as missing aspiration, vowel change, lax and tense vowel etc. Additionally, it is expected to explore more on another language such as Sundanese, Balinese, Bataknese, or other. Hence, it will enrich the data base of language phonological aspects.