Exploring Rhotacism in English Spoken by Urdu Speakers in Pakistan

Abstract

This study examines the Rhotacismof the /r/ sound among native Urdu speakers learning English, focusing on minimal pairs and medial contexts. The aim is to understand phonological transfer and improve language teaching and therapy techniques. The study analyzed formant frequencies and durations of /r/ sounds produced by early learners (exposed to English before age 10) and late learners (exposed after age 10) using a purposive sample of 20 participants. Grounded in the Critical Period Hypothesis and the Speech Learning Model (SLM), which together suggest that early language exposure leads to more native-like pronunciation and that L1 phonetic characteristics influence L2 acquisition. The findings reveal that early learners exhibit clearer formant frequencies and shorter durations, effectively distinguishing the /r/ sound from others. In contrast, late learners demonstrate overlapping frequencies and longer durations, influenced by the retroflex /r/ in Urdu. The discussion underscores the impact of L1 phonology on L2 pronunciation and the necessity for targeted pronunciation exercises and speech therapy interventions. The study concludes that early exposure to English significantly enhances phonological proficiency. However, limitations such as the small sample size and the focus on specific phonetic contexts suggest the need for further research with larger samples and diverse contexts to validate these findings and explore additional phonological features influencing L2 acquisition.