Pronunciation
In most cases, pronunciation problems
result from the loss of muscular plasticity in the
mouth of an adult foreign language learner
(Brown, 1987). In other words, it is hard for an
adult language learner to pronounce certain
sounds that are unfamiliar to them. Some
problems are as follows:
1. English phonemes
1.1 Some sounds are difficult for Thai
learners to produce. For example, Thai people
are confused by the sounds /l/ and /r/ as in
rice and lice. For example:
Please give me some fried lice (instead
of fried rice.)
Other sounds are for example:
/t∫/ and /∫/ as in chop and shop.
I want to chop for something (instead of shop.)
1.2 The English final consonant may
be the most difficult part of the word for Thais
to pronounce. For example, Thai final stop
sounds are all unvoiced. Therefore, it is hard for
Thai students to produce a final voiced consonant
such as bed, or bid. The influence of the voiced
final consonant /d/ on the preceding vowel /ε/
and /I/ lengthens the sounds of the vowels.
Thus, some Thai students tend to say bate