Production of five American English front vowels by adult Mandarin Chinese speakers

The main focus of this dissertation was on the production of five American English front vowels by adult Mandarin Chinese male and female speakers. The purpose was to determine whether adult Mandarin Chinese speakers could pronounce the five American English front vowels as authentically as native English speakers did and to establish a scale of difficulty in pronouncing these English vowels for native Mandarin Chinese speakers. Further, this dissertation sought to find out if those American English vowels that are similar to Mandarin Chinese vowels were easier or more difficult for adult Chinese learners of English to pronounce. By comparing the mean F1 and F2 frequencies of the five American English front vowels /iy/, /I/, /ey/, /;The results of this study indicate that adult Mandarin Chinese speakers were quite successful in pronouncing some of the five English vowels in a native-like or near-native-like way. Evidence shows that among the five American English front vowels /ey/ and /ae/ are the easiest for adult Mandarin Chinese speakers to pronounce, while /I/ and /;The results of this study show a need for adult Mandarin Chinese speakers to differentiate between /iy/ and /I/. More contrast practice between /iy/ and /I/ should be provided for adult Chinese learners of English. In addition, further research needs to be conducted to see whether /iy/ is difficult or easy for Mandarin Chinese speakers to pronounce since the results of this study are inconclusive.;Campbell (1980) mentioned that universities should prepare ESL teachers in English phonology and the teaching of pronunciation. As more and more Chinese immigrants and students enter the United States and Canada, ESL education has played an ever-increasing role in teaching these immigrants English. Thus, the findings of this study can be applied in those ESL programs in which Mandarin Chinese speakers are learning English as a second language. The findings of this study can also be used in teaching English pronunciation to Chinese students who are learning English as a foreign language in China.