On Developmental Pattern Of English Monophthongs By Chinese ESL Learners

Language sound is the physical shell a language and also is the mediator for correctdelivery of information. Belonging to the different phyla, there are obvious differencesbetween the phonology of Chinese and English, especially in vowel systems. Due to thedifferences caused by the two vowel systems and the transfer from Chinese articulationadditionally, Chinese ESL learners have great difficulty when articulate vowels. Consideringthe monophthongs are the basic phonemes of diphthongs and the main part of vowel system,it is significant to investigate the acquisition of monophthongs of English by Chinese ESLlearners.In this study, the researcher focuses on the investigation of correctness rate of vowelproduction and developmental trajectories of English monophtongs by Chinese ESL learners.It is carried out based on Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis, Markedness DifferentialHypothesis, Language Transfer Theory, and Speech Learning Model Theory. Combined withinterview, the study is carried out through listening the recording of articulation ofmonophthongs of 50 participants and then get the perception of their pronunciations with thepurpose for investigating the developmental pattern of English monophthongs by ChineseESL learners. The data of the experiment are calculated and analyzed with the help of Exceland SPSS. In addition, the researcher gives the reasons and discussions of the findingspresented.The conclusion of this study is listed below:1) Central vowels are acquired better than front vowels and back vowels; back vowelsare acquired better than front vowels.2) 12 English monophtongs are acquired in order and the acquisition order is /:/, /ɑ:/, /∪:/＞/(?)/＞/(?)(?):/, /e/, //＞/i:/＞/I/. /(?)/, /(?)(?)/ and // are not acquired by Chinese ESL learners.3) The developmental patterns of English monophthongs are under two kinds oftrajectories. /I/, /ɑ:/ and /(?)(?)/ are linearly developed while /i: /, /e/, /(?)/, /: /, /(?)/, //, /(?)(?):/, // and/∪:/ are deviously developed. In the devious developmental trajectories, // is under"developing-regressing"process and /i: /, /e/, /(?)/, /: /, /(?)/, /(?)(?):/, // and /∪:/ are under"U"shaped process which is presented as"developing-regressing-developing again". And theregressing procedure is compulsory in phonetic acquisition.The conclusion of the thesis is instructive to phonetic teaching in China. For Englishteachers, different teaching methods are applied for learners in different levels. The monophthongs with lower correctness rate need to be strengthen in teaching. Due to the devious developmental trajectories of some monophthons, teacher should be tolerant with error in pronunciations. For the learners, it is necessary to learn the phonetic knowledge and phonological knowledge in order to contrast English and Chinese in phonological system. In addition, the conclusion of the thesis is also instructive to the editing of phonetic textbooks for Chinese ESL learners in terms of choosing material and the organization of the chapters.