The Influence of Mother Tongue on English Pronunciation: A Case Study in District Rahim Yar Khan

Abstract

This research paper investigates the significant influence of mother tongue on English pronunciation among secondary level learners in District Rahim Yar Khan, where Punjabi and Saraiki languages are predominantly spoken as the native tongues. The study aims to explore the common pronunciation problems faced by these learners and identify the role of their mother tongue in shaping their English pronunciation. Additionally, the research seeks to propose effective remedial measures of proper learning to overcome these pronunciation challenges. To achieve these objectives, the researcher conducted sound recordings of secondary school students, focusing on a carefully selected word list of 100 words from the 9th and 10th-grade English textbooks. These recordings were analyzed using Phon software, enabling the identification of the most affected phones and phoneme. Ultimately, this study sheds light on the crucial issue of mother tongue interference in English pronunciation among secondary-level learners in District Rahim Yar Khan.