Phonetic challenges in English: the impact of mispronunciation of the bilabial plosive/p/on communication among Saudi EFL learners

Abstract

Despite both/p/and/b/being bilabial sounds, the subtle yet significant mispronunciation of/p/by Saudi Arabian learners of English can lead to unintended meanings, highlighting the critical role of precise pronunciation in mastering a new language. Mispronunciation of English phonemes by non-native speakers has long been a focus of scholarly research, with the consonantal bilabial plosive/p/offering a particular issue for Saudi EFL learners. This study aims to quantify the extent of this mispronunciation, identify prevailing patterns, examine contributing factors, and assess the impact of university and proficiency levels on pronunciation accuracy. Employing a descriptive quantitative methodology, this research engaged 112 male Saudi EFL learners aged 19 to 25, from diverse academic backgrounds, using an oral test comprising 30 words with the/p/sound in various positions to gather data. The findings reveal pronounced difficulties with the/p/sound, particularly in medial positions, without significant variation across university and proficiency levels, suggesting a pervasive issue. Interlingual interference, notably the frequent substitution of/p/with/b/by native Arabic speakers, emerges as a critical factor, with the potential for drastically altering meanings. Fossilization, cognitive, social, educational and psychological factors also contribute to these mispronunciations. This study accentuates the necessity of targeted pronunciation training to tackle this multifaceted challenge effectively, irrespective of learners’ university or proficiency levels. Based on these findings, implications, limitations, and recommendations were provided.

Keywords

• Consonantal bilabial plosive /p/
• EFL
• language learning
• mispronunciation
• phonemes
• proficiency level