SCHWA INSERTION IN KOREAN PRONUNCIATION IN ANDERSEN’S “A LITTLE MATCH GIRL”

Abstract

K-Pop or known as Korean Pop is one of the famous phenomena in the world. It is obvious when some of the singers, actors and public figures, provide the lyrics in a song and conversations in a drama into English. Somehow, the word in English pronounced by Korean people will sound different from the way English people pronounce the word, thus making some words not clearly understood. This phenomenon usually happens when one language has different system from other languages. English and Korean have different systemsin phonology. It is simple to recognize that when Koreans pronounce the English words, they need to insert certain sound to ease the pronunciation. The phenomenon of schwa insertion in Korean pronunciation is interesting to discuss, for it will show not only the reason why schwa insertion is a must but also what effect is created by the insertion.Phonology is expected to throw a light on how a certain sound can be inserted in a word under the influence of certain sound system. Using phonology features and phonology rules can help the reader understand why certain sound can be inserted into some words, how the environment of the sound will influence the other word, thus a certain sound is needed in the word. The paper examines this phenomenon in phonology by analysing the insertion of schwa in Korean speakers’ pronunciation. In the end, the paper is expected to show the schwa insertion in Korean pronunciation and the effect created by the insertion.