Identification of phonetic transfers of the palato-alveolar phonemes of English in first-semester students of the Modern Languages Program with Emphasis on English and French of the University of Cauca

Abstract

This study investigates the phonetic transfers of palato-alveolar phonemes from Spanish to English among first-semester students in the Bachelor's Program in Modern Languages with an Emphasis on English and French at the University of Cauca. Through a mixed-method approach, the research identifies the key pronunciation challenges that arise due to the influence of Spanish as the students' mother tongue. The findings indicate that students experience significant difficulties with the pronunciation of the English phonemes /tʃ/, /dʒ/, /ʃ/, and /ʒ/, largely influenced by factors such as age, motivation, and the methods of instruction. These challenges underscore the need for targeted phonetic instruction to enhance students' phonological awareness and overall communicative competence in English. The study provides insights that could inform more effective teaching strategies in language education.