The Myth of Reference Varieties in English Pronunciation across the Subcontinent, Egypt and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Muhammad Ashraf Khan

doi:10.5539/ijel.v5n3p19

Abstract

The present study aims at exploring the differences in pronunciation more or less prevailing in the Indian Subcontinent and Arab world with a special focus on Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The study identifies the most common factors that affect English pronunciation in general: (i) some phonemic differences that exist in L1 and English as a target language, (ii) Improper teaching and learning of English pronunciation. When non-native speakers of English exchange their ideas among themselves, their comprehension is to the maximum. But their pronunciation seems problematic in case the speaker or interlocutor is a native speaker. A test for the nationals of the lands included in the study was developed and administered to identify and specify the exact area(s) of pronunciation difficulties either consonants or vowels at segmental level of phonology. The analysis and conclusion of the test fully proved that English pronunciation is deeply influenced by the sound system of indigenous languages. As a matter of fact, English pronunciation of some non-native speakers, through their best possible efforts, may be closer to native speakers but not exactly like that of natives. The fact is that native and non-native differences in English pronunciation are unquestionable. Moreover, non-natives living in different areas (sometimes of the same community) also differ more or less in their pronunciation.

Highlights

IntroductionA never ending research on English(es) of the world and its variety is going on but the findings are always divergent
The present study aims at exploring the differences in pronunciation more or less prevailing in the Indian Subcontinent and Arab world with a special focus on Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt
Phonology both at segmental and supra-segmental levels is a complex phenomenon especially for non-native speakers of English which invites our attention to address the issue at all levels, in the context when a speaker and a listener experience intelligibility problems

Summary

Introduction

A never ending research on English(es) of the world and its variety is going on but the findings are always divergent. A crystal clear fact is that the environment of education is the most vital factor towards the standard of non-native English and especially accent and pronunciation. This does not solve all the problems related to non-native English accent. A plethora of research in the area of intelligibility at international level exists but all this could not put forward any solution to the problem of unintelligible varieties of English pronunciation. The questions arise: (i) how many countries in the world are there which may financially afford native English teachers?; (ii) how many native English teachers are available to meet the world demand?; (iii) who will guarantee a single standard of English throughout the world?

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Conclusion