Phonetic Analysis of the /l/–/r/ Contrast in the English Pronunciation of Malaysian Chinese Teachers

Abstract

This exploratory case study examines the production of the English /l/ and /r/ sounds by two Malaysian Chinese teachers, focusing on pronunciation accuracy, substitution patterns, and variation across word positions. Data were collected through recorded word-list readings and analysed using auditory phonetic transcription based on the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The results indicate variation in the production of /l/ and /r/ across initial, medial, and final word positions. The /l/ sound was less accurately produced in the final position, whereas /r/ showed its highest accuracy initially and lower accuracy in the medial and final positions. The analysis also identified /l/ → /r/ substitutions in the initial and medial positions and /r/ → /l/ substitutions in the medial position. Although these patterns may be discussed in relation to cross-linguistic influence, the study does not establish L1 interference as their direct cause. The findings offer preliminary, participant-specific insights into the /l/–/r/ contrast and suggest the potential value of pronunciation awareness and targeted segmental pronunciation training.