STUDENTS’ ERRORS IN ENGLISH VOWEL PRONUNCIATION

Abstract

This research aimed to describe students’ error in English vowel pronunciation and the factors caused these errors at fourth semester students in English Education Department of UMMY Solok in 2021/2022 academic year. The researcher found some problems in English vowel pronunciation; students had lack of knowledge of pronunciation and understanding of English words, and students struggled as there are no similar sounds of their original language or mother tongue in English. This research was conducted by using descriptive quantitative. The sample of the research was all fourth semester students in English Education Department of UMMY Solok in 2021/2022 academic year, which consist of 14 students. The data were collected through pronunciation test and questionnaire. The results of this research showed that the level of students score in English vowel pronunciation was “very good”. However, there are five majors of students’ error. These errors occurred in the pronunciation of vowels /ɪ/, /ɒ/, /ɔ:/, /ɜ:/, and /ǝ/. Then, the factor affecting students to do errors was interlingual errors, the errors caused by the difference between pronunciations letters of students’ first language with the target language. It is hoped that this research will be useful for the lecturers, students and the next researchers.