Korean EFL Learners’ Acquisition of Voiceless Interdental Fricative

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the production of English interdental fricative [θ] by Korean EFL learners. This study also examines participants’ tendency to substitute [θ] with four possible variants. Data is gathered from 17 EFL learners who are asked to demonstrate four oral production tasks. The speech styles are collected by interview, reading aloud a passage, a word list with minimal pairs, and a picture story telling. In addition, participants are asked to fill their preferred variants for (th) on the questionnaire given. After using the Praat program to analyze data, the study shows that phonological variation in English (th) is systematically affected by (1) internal factors (phono- logical factors): following front vowel and syllable positions; (2) external factor: speech style. With regard to phonological factors, high frequency plays a crucial role and high frequency words are more quickly to go through the progress of the acquisition of (th)-sound. As for the effect of external context, word-list reading and passage reading strongly promotes accurate (th), while story telling inhibits it. The study also suggests that the more attention is paid to speech, the more accurate production will be produced. Finally, the language attitude questionnaire revealed that /s/ is not only the acceptable substitute but also the students’ preferred variant for (th)-sound.