The linguistic differences between German and English are going to be researched and compared, in order to light upon the reasons for mispronunciations and difficulties for German speakers of English. Learning a language or a skill in general, naturally needs practice and commitment to be able to master it. However, this text is going to leave this aspect aside and will concentrate on differences which emerge from the languages themselves. German and English are two different languages with the same Latin alphabet and different grammar for the naked eye, but beneath the surface are further differences and similarities which can be described in order to understand why German speakers of English seem to produce the same mistakes when no practice for correct pronunciation is given.
The importance of English has increased over the past years and is one of the most spoken and important languages. It is needed in business relations, to read manuals, can be used in almost all foreign countries for communication and is generally important for every working citizen in terms of a business language, as former European Commissioner Günther Oettinger stated in his interview with German broadcast channel SWR in 2005. In 2010 a speech of Oettinger was published, which was held in the Columbia University of Berlin and showed, after his contribution in the broadcast, that his English proficiency was not appropriate when considering the circumstances.
Especially in terms of politics, an individual wants to be taken seriously and act superior in all tasks given to comply with the role of a representative politician. After Oettinger held his speech, it was naturally connected to what was originally said by him, with the obvious connotation that he failed to meet his own expectations in English acquisition by far, although it was of utmost importance. The English language however can be difficult for foreign speakers. Although being of the same Germanic origin as German, many foreign speakers experience a hard time when trying to achieve native-like pronunciation. Words such
as squirrel, all words with a 'th-' and minimal pairs (e.g. hat and had) are often difficult to pronounce and distinguish for foreign learners, due to phonetic and phonemic differences, which cannot easily be translated into the German system due to their non-existence.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Background
2.1 Historical background of the English and German language
2.2 The development of English
2.3 The development of German
3. Contrastive Analysis of English and German phonetics and phonology
3.1 Consonants
3.1.1 English and German consonant inventory
3.1.2 Phonemic articulatory similarities and differences
3.1.3 Allophonic, distributional and phonetic difficulties
3.2 Vowels
3.2.1 Comparison of the German and English vowel inventories
3.2.2 General differences between the German and English vowel inventories
3.3 Phonotactic Constraints
3.3.1 Syllable building in English and German
3.3.2 Comparison of phonotactic rules and restrictions
4. Prominent examples for English mispronunciations in German interviews and speeches
4.1 Examples for consonantal difficulties
4.2 Examples for difficulties with vowels
4.3 Phonotactical examples
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This thesis examines the phonetic and phonological differences between English and German to understand the causes of common mispronunciations among German speakers. By conducting a contrastive analysis of consonantal systems, vowel inventories, and phonotactic constraints, the work aims to identify how the native linguistic background influences the acquisition of English pronunciation, particularly in public speaking contexts.
- Historical development of the English and German language systems.
- Comparative analysis of consonantal and vowel inventories.
- Examination of phonotactic constraints and syllable structure.
- Case studies of public figures' speeches and interviews.
- Analysis of cross-linguistic phonetic interference and mispronunciation patterns.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1.2 Phonemic articulatory similarities and differences
The plosive consonants of German and English show no differences on the surface. Bilabial, alveolar and velar plosives are all present in both consonant systems. Although the systems basically share the same units of sound, there is one major difference caused by a systematic phonetic final-obstruent devoicing process, commonly occurring in the German language (cf. Biersack 2002: 57).
Gast und König (2018: 15) showed that basically, the inventory of plosive consonants share the same characteristics, both languages have the aspirational effects in common. Plosives appearing at the beginning of a syllable are pronounced with an aspiration and varying strength, which is depending on whether the syllable is stressed or not (ibid.). The German language additionally features the final-obstruent devoicing, which can cause cross-linguistic influences and result in negative transfer, concerning the pronunciation of minimal pairs. Therefore, minimal pairs such as had and hat or bad and bat may presumably be regarded as a difficulty in pronunciation for German speakers, due to the missing ability to distinguish the final plosive phonemes (cf. Biersack 2002: 57).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the relevance of English proficiency in global business and politics and outlines the focus on phonetic research.
2. Theoretical Background: Explores the historical evolution of the Germanic language family and the specific developmental paths of English and German.
3. Contrastive Analysis of English and German phonetics and phonology: Compares the phonemic, vowel, and phonotactic structures of both languages to identify potential sources of interference.
4. Prominent examples for English mispronunciations in German interviews and speeches: Applies the theoretical findings to real-world examples from public figures to visualize common mistakes.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings and emphasizes how phonetic differences can lead to listener-perceived disturbances in spoken English.
Keywords
Contrastive Linguistics, Phonetics, Phonology, German Speakers, English Language, Mispronunciation, Phonotactic Constraints, Consonant Inventory, Vowel Inventory, Language Transfer, Cross-linguistic Influence, Received Pronunciation, Articulation, Syllable Structure, Phonemic Interference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The thesis focuses on the phonetic and phonological contrasts between English and German, specifically investigating why German speakers often encounter difficulties when pronouncing English words.
What are the central thematic areas?
The central themes include the historical development of both languages, a comparative analysis of their phonetic systems (consonants, vowels, and phonotactics), and the practical application of this analysis to real-life speaking examples.
What is the main objective of the thesis?
The objective is to identify and explain the linguistic roots of mispronunciations in English by German speakers, particularly when those speakers are in public roles.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The study utilizes a contrastive linguistic methodology, comparing the phonetic inventories and phonotactic rules of both languages, supported by empirical observation of speeches and interviews.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the systematic comparison of consonants, vowels, and syllable-building rules (phonotactics), followed by a practical analysis of specific speech errors made by public figures.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Contrastive Linguistics, Phonetics, Phonology, Language Transfer, Phonotactic Constraints, and Cross-linguistic Influence.
How does final-obstruent devoicing affect German speakers learning English?
Final-obstruent devoicing is a common German linguistic trait that leads to difficulty in distinguishing voiced and voiceless consonants in final syllable positions, often resulting in the mispronunciation of English minimal pairs.
Why are onset clusters a specific area of difficulty?
Onset clusters represent a challenge because German and English have different restrictions on which consonant combinations are permitted at the beginning of a word; German speakers may struggle with English-specific clusters that are not native to their own system.
Does the author conclude that these mispronunciations change the meaning of words?
Generally, no; while these phonetic errors can be distracting or inconvenient for native English listeners, the author notes that they rarely result in a complete loss of meaning.
- Citar trabajo
- Aykut Sahingöz (Autor), 2019, English-German contrastive phonetics and phonology. A study of interviews and speeches, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/538938
