THE REALISATION OF ENGLISH PURE VOWELS BY IBIBIO SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH

Abstract The study investigates The Realisation of English Pure Vowels by Ibibio Speakers of English examining the phonological challenges faced by speakers of the Ibibio language when pronouncing English pure vowels. Given the significant differences between the vowel systems of English and Ibibio, which has only ten vowels compared to the twelve pure vowels in English, this research explores the extent of linguistic interference and the resultant errors in pronunciation. This phonological interference is framed within the context of Robert Lado’s Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis, which postulates that the structures of a first language can significantly influence second language acquisition. Similarities and dissimilarities in characteristics have been analysed. The study employed a descriptive research design with a sample of fifty average Ibibio speakers from Uyo Local Government Area. Data collection involved production tests where participants pronounced selected English words containing pure vowels in connected speech and pronunciation in isolation. Findings indicate that 17 out of 20 English words were problematic for participants, highlighting a substantial phonological gap and specific vowels such as /i:/, /æ/, /a:/, /ɔ:/, /u:/, /Λ/, /ə/, and /ɜ:/ that posed significant challenges due to their absence in the Ibibio phonetic inventory. This study recommends the need for targeted teaching methodologies to address these challenges, facilitating better phonetic training and enhancing English proficiency among Ibibio speakers.