A Qualitative Study on the English Accent Pronunciation of Indonesian Native Speakers

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the influence of local accent on English pronunciation among English Department students. In the context of Indonesia, which is rich in regional language diversity, local accents often affect the pronunciation of English vocabulary, especially on sounds that are not found in the speakers' native language. This challenge is important to note, given that proper pronunciation greatly affects the ability to communicate in English. To investigate this, the research method used was a descriptive qualitative approach with data collection techniques in the form of recorded speaking tasks and in-depth interviews. This study involved 30 students who came from various regional backgrounds. The results revealed that most students were still affected by regional accents, such as the pronunciation of the phoneme /θ/ into /t/ or /s/, as well as intonation patterns that were not in accordance with English standards. For example, the word “think” is often pronounced as “tink” or “sink”. These findings indicate the need for a more intensive phonetic approach in teaching speaking in English classes, as well as the development of teaching materials that are more responsive to the diversity of local accents. Thus, this study is expected to contribute to the development of English curriculum and teaching methods in Indonesia.