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A Comparative Study of the Phonological Systems of English and Burmese: The Implications for Teaching and Learning English Pronunciation

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Title: A Comparative Study of the Phonological Systems of English and Burmese: The Implications for Teaching and Learning English Pronunciation
Language: English
Authors: Pyae Pyae Min Zaw, Sirikorn Bamroongkit, Sorabud Rungrojsuwan
Source: Journal of Education and Learning. 2026 15(1):255-266.
Availability: Canadian Center of Science and Education. 1595 Sixteenth Ave Suite 301, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3N9 Canada. Tel: 416-642-2606; Fax: 416-642-2608; e-mail: jel@ccsenet.org; Web site: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jel
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Phonology, English, Sino Tibetan Languages, English (Second Language), Second Language Instruction, Pronunciation, Second Language Learning, Suprasegmentals, Contrastive Linguistics, Phonemes, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Burma
ISSN: 1927-5250
1927-5269
Abstract: To support second-language learners, a comparative analysis of phonologies will assist in identifying difficulties in pronunciation caused by cross-linguistic influences. Furthermore, pinpointing differences in the features of L1 and L2 phonologies will help teachers devise effective pedagogies to address these challenges. Therefore, with the aim of solving Burmese learners' difficulties in English pronunciation, this paper compares the phonological systems of English and Burmese languages through a systematic comparative study based on existing empirical literature. To achieve this, a systematic document analysis method for analyzing the selected literature was employed. The findings revealed that the English consonants /v/ /f/ /r/ and /[ezh]/ sounds are absent in Burmese, while the English vowels /[near-close near-front unrounded vowel]/, /[near-close back rounded vowel]/, /ae/, /[open-mid back unrounded vowel]/, /[open back rounded vowel]/, /[open-mid central unrounded vowel]?/, /i?/, /u?/, /a?/, /[open-mid back rounded vowel]/, /[open-mid back rounded vowel][near-close near-front unrounded vowel]/, /ae/, /[schwa][near-close back rounded vowel]/, /[near-close near-front unrounded vowel][schwa]/, and /[near-close back rounded vowel][schwa]/ are absent in the Burmese vowel system. The differences between Burmese and British English are even greater in terms of stress, syllable structures, and intonation. To improve the pronunciation problems of Burmese EFL learners, the practical implications for teaching and learning English pronunciation are considered in detail in this paper.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1498910
Database: ERIC
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  Data: A Comparative Study of the Phonological Systems of English and Burmese: The Implications for Teaching and Learning English Pronunciation
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  Data: Canadian Center of Science and Education. 1595 Sixteenth Ave Suite 301, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3N9 Canada. Tel: 416-642-2606; Fax: 416-642-2608; e-mail: jel@ccsenet.org; Web site: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jel
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  Data: To support second-language learners, a comparative analysis of phonologies will assist in identifying difficulties in pronunciation caused by cross-linguistic influences. Furthermore, pinpointing differences in the features of L1 and L2 phonologies will help teachers devise effective pedagogies to address these challenges. Therefore, with the aim of solving Burmese learners' difficulties in English pronunciation, this paper compares the phonological systems of English and Burmese languages through a systematic comparative study based on existing empirical literature. To achieve this, a systematic document analysis method for analyzing the selected literature was employed. The findings revealed that the English consonants /v/ /f/ /r/ and /[ezh]/ sounds are absent in Burmese, while the English vowels /[near-close near-front unrounded vowel]/, /[near-close back rounded vowel]/, /ae/, /[open-mid back unrounded vowel]/, /[open back rounded vowel]/, /[open-mid central unrounded vowel]?/, /i?/, /u?/, /a?/, /[open-mid back rounded vowel]/, /[open-mid back rounded vowel][near-close near-front unrounded vowel]/, /ae/, /[schwa][near-close back rounded vowel]/, /[near-close near-front unrounded vowel][schwa]/, and /[near-close back rounded vowel][schwa]/ are absent in the Burmese vowel system. The differences between Burmese and British English are even greater in terms of stress, syllable structures, and intonation. To improve the pronunciation problems of Burmese EFL learners, the practical implications for teaching and learning English pronunciation are considered in detail in this paper.
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 255
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      – SubjectFull: Phonology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sino Tibetan Languages
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English (Second Language)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Second Language Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pronunciation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Second Language Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Suprasegmentals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Contrastive Linguistics
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      – SubjectFull: Phonemes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Burma
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: A Comparative Study of the Phonological Systems of English and Burmese: The Implications for Teaching and Learning English Pronunciation
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            NameFull: Sirikorn Bamroongkit
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            NameFull: Sorabud Rungrojsuwan
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              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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