English-German contrastive phonetics and phonology. A study of interviews and speeches

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

Objectives and Key Themes

This thesis examines the phonetic and phonological differences between English and German, aiming to understand why German speakers often struggle with English pronunciation. It explores the historical development of both languages, analyzes their respective consonant and vowel systems, and investigates phonotactic constraints.

• Historical development of English and German
• Contrastive analysis of English and German phonetics and phonology
• English mispronunciations in German interviews and speeches
• Phonetic and phonemic differences between the languages
• Phonotactic constraints and their impact on pronunciation

Chapter Summaries

• Chapter 1: Introduction
  This chapter introduces the topic of English pronunciation difficulties for German speakers. It highlights the importance of English in the contemporary world and uses the example of a German politician's English speech to illustrate the potential consequences of mispronunciation. The chapter also outlines the research objectives and the focus on examining linguistic differences between English and German.
• Chapter 2: Theoretical Background
  This chapter provides a historical overview of English and German languages, focusing on their development and the emergence of distinct features. It discusses the prevalence of English as a global language and its impact on education and society, especially in Germany. The chapter also explores the concept of language transfer and its implications for foreign language learning.
• Chapter 3: Contrastive Analysis of English and German phonetics and phonology
  This chapter delves into the phonetic and phonological differences between English and German, analyzing their consonant and vowel systems. It highlights the similarities and differences in phonemic inventories, articulatory features, and allophonic variations. The chapter also investigates phonotactic constraints, focusing on syllable building and phonotactic rules in both languages.
• Chapter 4: Prominent examples for English mispronunciations in German interviews and speeches
  This chapter examines specific examples of English mispronunciations by German speakers in interviews and speeches. It categorizes these errors based on consonantal difficulties, vowel errors, and phonotactic violations. The chapter aims to demonstrate how the phonetic and phonological differences identified in previous chapters manifest in real-life speech.

Keywords

English-German contrastive phonetics, phonology, pronunciation, mispronunciation, interviews, speeches, consonant inventory, vowel inventory, phonotactic constraints, language transfer, historical development, Germanic languages, global language.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do German speakers struggle with English pronunciation?

Difficulties arise from phonetic and phonological differences, such as sounds that exist in English but not in German (e.g., the 'th' sound or specific vowel qualities).

What are "minimal pairs" in phonology?

Minimal pairs are words that differ by only one sound, such as 'hat' and 'had'. German speakers often struggle to distinguish these due to final-devoicing rules in German.

How does the historical background affect English and German?

Although both are Germanic languages, they developed different phonetic systems over centuries, leading to the "language transfer" errors seen in modern learners.

What are phonotactic constraints?

Phonotactic constraints are rules that determine which combinations of sounds are allowed in a language's syllables. Differences here can cause mispronunciations when a speaker applies German rules to English words.

Who is Günther Oettinger in the context of this study?

The study uses Oettinger’s speeches as a prominent example of how phonetic difficulties can affect the public perception of non-native speakers in professional roles.