Acoustic Characteristics of Pakistani English Vowel Sounds

Abdul Abbasi,Masood Memon,Irtaza Ahmed,Stephen John,Kamlesh Kumar,Mansoor Channa

doi:10.5539/ijel.v8n5p27

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to document acoustic characteristics of Pakistani English (PaKE) vowel sounds. The experiment was designed to examine the properties of ten vowels produced by Pakistani ESL learners. The analysis is based on the voice samples of recorded 50 CVC words. Total 5000 (10 10 50=5000) voiced samples were analyzed. The data consisted of 50 words of ten English vowel sounds [i: ɪ e ɔ: æ ə ɑ: u: ɒ ʊ]. Ten ESL speakers recorded their voice samples on Praat speech processing tool installed on laptop. Three parameters were considered i.e., fundamental frequency (F0), vowel quality (F1-F2) and duration. Formant patterns were judged manually by visual inspection on Praat Speech Processing Tool. Analysis of formant frequency shows numerous differences between male and female of F1 and F2, fundamental frequency and duration of English vowels. The voice samples provide evidence for higher and lower frequency of vowel sounds. Additionally, the data analysis illustrates that there were statistical differences in the values of short and long vowels coupled with vowel space plot showing explicit differences in locating the production of vowels of male &amp; female vowel space acoustic realizations.

Highlights

This study is based on 5000 voice samples (10× 10 × 50=5000) which were analyzed in a very careful manner
To analyze Pakistani English (PaKE) vowels, three phonetic exponents were considered as parameters for the analysis e.g., duration, fundamental frequency and first and second formant frequency
The result shown that the vowel sound produced by English as Second Language (ESL) speakers both male and female has different values of 4 research aspects (F1, F2, F0 and duration)

Summary

Introduction

This study is based on 5000 voice samples (10× 10 × 50=5000) which were analyzed in a very careful manner. To analyze PaKE vowels, three phonetic exponents were considered as parameters for the analysis e.g., duration, fundamental frequency and first and second formant frequency. The study focuses on the characterization of vowel sounds produced by English as Second Language (ESL) learners and the positions of Pakistani vowels space in vowel space plot of mouth cavity. The objectives behind this study are to document the variations in frequencies of 10 different English vowels by ESL learners. The study tests the hypothesis that if ESL learners pronounce English vowels, their placement of vowels on vowel space will be differently placed by male and female Pakistani ESL learners. Based on the research questions as follows: What are the acoustic realizations of PaKE English vowel sounds? What is difference in placement of acoustic vowel space plot between male and female? Based on the research questions as follows: What are the acoustic realizations of PaKE English vowel sounds? What is difference in placement of acoustic vowel space plot between male and female?

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion