Pronunciation Problems. A Case Study of English Language Students At Sudan University of Science and Technology

Abstract

This study investigates the problems in English pronunciation experienced by learners whose first language is Sudanese Spoken Arabic. In other words to find the problematic sounds and the factors that cause these problems . Then find some techniques that help the Sudanese Students of English improve their pronunciation. The subjects for the study were fifty students from University of Sudan of Science and Technology (SUST), and thirty university teachers of English language from the same university. The instruments used for collecting the data were observation, recordings and a structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed both statistically and descriptively. The findings of the study revealed that Sudanese Students of English whose language background is Sudanese Spoken Arabic, had problems with the pronunciation of English vowels that have more than one way of pronunciation in addition to the consonant sound contrasts e.g. /z/ and / ð /, /s/ and / θ/, /b/ and /p/, / ʃ/ and / ʧ/. Based on the findings, the study concluded that factors such as interference, the differences in the sound system in the two languages , inconsistency of English sounds and spelling militate against Sudanese Students of English (SSEs )competence in pronunciation.