English Plosive Consonants Produced by Thai Speakers: An Analysis of Voice Onset Time

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Published: Jan 31, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70730/LJIC7341
Keywords:
Voice Onset Time (VOT) Thai-accented English pronunciation second language acquisition

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Thanachporn Varapongsittikul
English as an International Language, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Sujinat Jitwiriyanont
Department of Linguistics, Center of Excellence in Southeast Asian Linguistics, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the VOT values of English word-initial plosive consonants produced by young Thai learners to understand current trends in English pronunciation among Thai speakers and its future direction. The study analyzes how phonological mismatches between Thai and English affect the pronunciation of Thai learners, using a speech corpus produced by 49 seventh-grade students. The results reveal recurring patterns of consonant pronunciation, classified into Consistent and Inconsistent groups. While voiced plosives /b/ and /d/ were mostly pronounced with voicing lead, resembling Thai phonetic norms, velar /g/ was frequently substituted with /k/ due to the absence of /g/ in the Thai sound system. However, some participants demonstrated a shift toward more native-like English pronunciation. Voiceless plosives were generally produced with long-lag VOT, aligning with both Thai and English norms, although some inconsistencies in aspiration were noted. The findings highlight the dynamic shift of English pronunciation among young Thai speakers. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of English spoken by Thais and facilitates instructors in designing targeted pronunciation tasks.

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How to Cite
Varapongsittikul, T., & Jitwiriyanont, S. (2025). English Plosive Consonants Produced by Thai Speakers: An Analysis of Voice Onset Time. LEARN Journal: Language Education and Acquisition Research Network, 18(1), 724–747. https://doi.org/10.70730/LJIC7341
Issue
Vol. 18 No. 1 (2025): LEARN Journal (January - June)
Section
Research Articles
Author Biographies

Thanachporn Varapongsittikul, English as an International Language, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

An M.A. candidate in the English as an International Language (EIL) program, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. Her research interests include applied linguistics, English as an international language, and speech intelligibility.

Sujinat Jitwiriyanont, Department of Linguistics, Center of Excellence in Southeast Asian Linguistics, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

An Assistant Professor and a researcher at the Center of Excellence in Southeast Asian Linguistics, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University. His research interests encompass Experimental Phonetics and Foreign Language Speech.

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