Consonants of Pakistani English: A Study Of: Syeda Iqra Shabbir, Abdur Rehman Tariq, Hafiz Ahmad Bilal, Huma Nazar

ISSN-L: 2223-9553, ISSN: 2223-9944
Academic Research International Vol. 4 No. 6 November 2013
CONSONANTS OF PAKISTANI ENGLISH: A STUDY OF /Θ/& /Ð/

Syeda Iqra Shabbir1, Abdur Rehman Tariq2, Hafiz Ahmad Bilal3,
Huma Nazar4, Rana Muhammad Haris Rafiq5
1, 2, 4, 5
Department of English, University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus,
3
Department of English, University of Sargodha,
Sargodha, PAKISTAN.
1
[email protected], 2 [email protected], 3 [email protected],
4
[email protected] ,5 [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Pakistani English is assumed to be different from other accents and dialects of
English on the basis of phonological variables. This research would investigate the
consonants of Pakistani English with special focus on /θ/& /ð/. The aim of this
research is to explore how Pakistani English is different from other varieties of
English on the bases of differences in consonants. The sample of this investigation
consists of postgraduate students (both male and female comprising age group 23-30
years selected from Department of English University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus.
The scope of this study would be limited to the English speech community of Pakistan.
The data is collected through word list recordings. This research would be beneficial
for the English speech community of Pakistan.
Keywords: Dialects of English, consonants, Pakistani English
INTRODUCTION
Language change is the most common phenomenon of the present time. Language change
occurs because of phonetic, phonological, morphological, semantic and syntactic variation.
Any of these variations cause the creation of a new variety of language. These changes are
the product of interaction of two languages. “English is used as native language and non-
native standard language, in ex-colonies of the British Empire” (Mesthrie, 2008).English
language is used across the globe as lingua franca. English language was introduced in the
subcontinent in 17th century. English is also enjoying the status of official language of
Pakistan. Pakistani English have at least four distinct varieties, named as, anglicized Pakistani
English, acrolect, mesolect and basilect (Rehman, 1999). The existent study endeavor that
Pakistani English should be addressed as acceptable dialect of English. This study
concentrated on phonological variables in pronunciation. Pakistani English is theorizing to
have different consonants causing great variation in pronunciation. The aim of this research is
to explore, how consonants in Pakistani English pronounced differently and how they
contribute in the formation of Pakistani English as a different variety of English language.
This study focuses at examining the consonants on scientific grounds. The sample of this
research is 23-30 years age group, postgraduate Pakistani students, from the English
department of university of Lahore, both male and female. The corpus for this study comes
from personal observations, reading of word-lists.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The main question related to this study is:
1. Are consonants in Pakistani English different from the consonants of other varieties
of English, with special reference to Received Pronunciation (RP)?
Part-I: Social Sciences & Humanities Copyright © 2013 SAVAP International www.journals.savap.org.pk
www.savap.org.pk 114
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Theoretical Background
English is the language of business and arts. It is the language of international trade. New
researches related to science and technologies are also coming out in English. To quote the
economist “English is the world standard language. It is the intrinsic Part of the global
communication revolution” (21 December 1996, p 39). The communiqué for the launch of
the British Council’s English 2000 project in 1995 summarized the position of English:
“World-wide, there are over 1,400 million people living in countries where English has
official status. One out five of the world population speaks English to some level of
competence. Demand from the other four fifths is increasing……English is the main
language of books, newspapers, airports and air traffic control, international business and
academic conferences, science and technology, diplomacy, sports, international competitions,
pop music and advertising” (as cited in Graddol, 1997, p.2)
English language was emerged due to migration in the fifth century. Graddol (1997) wrote
about the spread of English: “First was the colonial expansion of Britain which resulted in
settlements of English speakers in many parts of the world. This has provided a diasporic
base for the language which is probably a key Factor in the adoption of a language as a lingua
franca. In the 20th century the role of the US has been more important than that of Britain and
has helped ensure that the language is not only at the forefront of scientific and technical
knowledge but also leads consumer culture”(p.14).
English has been a flexible language. At the initial stages, it borrowed from Latin and Celtic
then from Scandinavian and French, and recently from other languages spoken in the British
colonies. (Burchfield, 1985)
English is considered lingua franca and now Asians are also sharing it with the rest of the
world. Asia has a few major languages of the world regarding their native speakers, Hindi,
Chinese, and Urdu etc. (McArthur, 2002)
Pakistani English (PE)
Not much research is available on Pakistani English phonology, but it can be observed that it
shared some common characteristics with other Asian Englishes. Bilal, Mahmood & Saleem
(2001a, 2011b, 2011c) and Bilal et al (2011) have highlighted some of the features of vowels
of Pakistani English. Some of the phonological features of Pakistani English are narrated by
Hickey, Mahboob and Ahmar.(Ahmar and Mahboob (2010).
a. Like other Asian varieties (except Philippines English), PE is rhotic.
b. PE is syllable-timed and shares this quality with other Asian varieties of English.
c. PE tends to use spellings as guide to pronunciation.
d. PE speakers do not distinguish between /v/ and /w/.
e. PE do not aspire stops in word initial positions due to the influence of Urdu which
has different phonemes.
There has been considerable regional variation in the realization of Fricative consonants
sounds.
I. The fricatives /θ/, /ð/are replaced by plosive /th/, /d/ and /dh/. (Garesh, 2006)
II. /θ/, /ð/ is almost missing and replaced by dental plosives /t/, /th/ and /d/.
ISSN-L: 2223-9553, ISSN: 2223-9944
MATERIAL AND METHODS

Participants
The participants were conscripted amid the students of postgraduate, from the English
department of university of Lahore. Amid 20 participants 10 were male and 10 were female,
all with Punjabi as their first language and consist of the age group from 23-30. The selection
yardstick includes that participants should have been expose to English for at least 16 year in
their educational career.
Material
Selection of Words
In order to restrict the potential range of speech data, it was decided to limit the study to the
analysis of Fricative consonants i.e. /th/. It was decided world list should be made to elicit the
require consonants rather than free speech. Word list consist of voiced and unvoiced fricative
consonants.
/Th/ θ (unvoiced)
• Initial (th at the beginning of the word)
Thread, Thunder, Think
• Middle (th in the middle of the word)
Birthday, Nothing, Bathroom
• Final (th at the end of the word)
Earth, Math, Teeth
/Th/ ð (voiced)
• Initial (th at the beginning of the world)
Those, That
• Middle (thin the middle of the word)
Brother, Mother
• Final (th at the end of the word)
Smooth, Clothe
The aim of choosing these words was to reach the conclusion about the realization of
consonants. “The foregoing consonants have more realization overall than vowels”.
(Hillenbrand et al., 2001, Roeder, 2009)
Recordings
Words were recorded using BlackBerry 8520 in a blaring free atmosphere. The recordings
were transcribed.
Procedure
Total number of participants is 20 (10 male and 10 female). Every participant was requested
to speak 15 words with /th/ (θ and ð) context.
Word list was given to students for reading. Then these words were transcribed.
Transcriptions were made. Total consonants taken for analysis were two. /th/ voices and
unvoiced. 15 words were taken having th sound voiced and unvoiced. Transcription shows
the variation in pronunciation of these sounds by the Pakistani students. Common variations
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were use of /th/, /d/ sounds instead of /th/ /ð/ voiced and /θ/ unvoiced. Consonants sounds in
RP are:
Transcriptions of words show some common variations in pronunciation of consonant /th/

sound. These are as follows:
Table 1. Unvoiced θ
Pronunciation by Pakistani
Words RP
students
Thread /θrɛd/ /thrɛd/
Thunder /θəndər/ /thəndər/
Think /θɪŋk/ /thɪŋk/
Birthday /bərθde/ /bərthde/, /bərdde/
Nothing /nəθɪŋ/ /nəthɪŋ/
Bathroom /bæθrum/ /bæthrum/
Earth /ərθ/ /ərth/
Math /mæθ/ /mæth/
Teeth /tiθ/ /tith/
Table 2. Voiced ð
Those /ðoz/ /doz/

That /ðæt/ /dæt/
Brother /brəðər/ /brədər/
Mother /məðər/ /mədər/
Smooth /smuð/ /Smud/
Clothe /kloð/ /Kloth/, /klod/
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Statistical Analysis
The data were submitted to statics analysis using computer software SPSS.
Analysis
Analysis of consonants is done by transcription of words, recorded by reading of word list.
Male and female voices are discussed separately. Then the comparison between PE and RP
is made bringing out the differences and similarities.
Female voices
The female speakers use /th/ and /d/ sound instead of /θ/ and /ð/ sounds. Data is shown in the
form of graph. Graph shows the ratio of use of /th/, /d/ and RP. Use of /th/ and /d/ sound is
most frequent.
70
60
/th/
50
40 /d/
30 RP
20
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
The speakers use /th/ and /d/ sound instead of /θ/ and /ð/ sounds. Three different tables show
the statistical analysis of /th/, /d/ and RP. Each table gives detail about frequency, percent,
valid percent and cumulative percent. Statistical analysis show following data:
Table 3. Female /th/
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
53.33 1 10.0 10.0 10.0
60.00 1 10.0 10.0 20.0

Valid
66.66 8 80.0 80.0 100.0
Total 10 100.0 100.0
Table 4. Female /d/
33.33 8 80.0 80.0 80.0
40.00 1 10.0 10.0 90.0

Valid
46.66 1 10.0 10.0 100.0
Total 10 100.0 100.0

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Table 5. Female RP
Valid .00 10 100.0 100.0 100.0
Male voices
The male speakers use /th/ and /d/ sound instead of /θ/ and /ð/ sounds. Data is shown in the
form of graph. Graph shows the ratio of use of /th/, /d/ and RP. Use of /th/ and /d/ sound is
most frequent.
70
60
50
40 /th/
30 /d/
20 RP
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Three different tables show the statistical analysis of /th/, /d/ and RP. Each table gives detail
about frequency, percent, valid percent and cumulative percent. Statistical analysis show
following data:
Table 6. Male /th/
53.33 2 20.0 20.0 20.0
60.00 1 10.0 10.0 30.0

Valid
66.66 7 70.0 70.0 100.0
Total 10 100.0 100.0
Table 7. Male /d/
33.33 7 70.0 70.0 70.0
40.00 1 10.0 10.0 80.0

Valid
46.33 1 10.0 10.0 90.0
46.66 1 10.0 10.0 100.0
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Table 8. Male RP
Valid .00 10 100.0 100.0 100.0
DISCUSSION
Female speakers
The comparison was made between the Pakistani female speakers and RP female speakers
about the realization of consonants. This comparison showed distinct features of Pakistani
English. The RP speakers pronounce words differently. /th/ voiced and unvoiced has specific
sounds transcribed as /θ/ and /ð/. While the Pakistani English speakers pronounce /th/ voiced
and unvoiced as /th/ and /d/.
Male speakers
Trend of Male speakers of PE remained similar to that of female speakers of PE. The
influence of Punjabi consonant system is also observable on both male and female speakers
of PE pronunciation.
CONCLUSION
The conclusions are drawn on the basis of analysis made above that the consonants in PE are
realized differently as compared to RP. English is an international language with great
number of non-native speakers of English. English is often used in a lingua franca context.
“The importance of English can and should not be undetermined. It is and will remain the
most important international language for some time to come. Being a true global lingua
franca and a language of both knowledge and trade, English must be taught as a subject and
promoted as a mean for acquiring specialized skills and new knowledge. Ideally, every
Pakistani should be able to read, write and converse in English”. (khalique, 2006, para, 37)
Many local Englishes (e.g. Pakistani variety of English) are emerging. McKay (2003)
reflected: “English is an international language and it belongs to its users, cultural content
and their sense of the appropriate use of English that should inform language pedagogy”. (p.
13 as cited in caine, 2008, para 13)
We found Pakistani speakers pronounce English consonants in a different manner as compare
to RP. One important advantage of this research is that it would be a channel and guidepost
for future researches. It might convince and appear as a motivation for the local researchers to
further boost the research to such a level as to make PE a recognizable international variety of
English.
Limitations of the study are because of number of participants and the terms of investigation.
The participants were confining to Punjabi L speakers of Sargodha city. Finding of the study
may not extend to English L2 speakers from other L1 backgrounds. The empirical state of
study does not speculate real-life communication situations. Go through these exemplary
notes in mind, I at the same time suggest that this kind of empirical study does provide some
important Insights and some valid pedagogical possibilities in the teaching and learning of
intelligible pronunciation.
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ISSN-L: 2223-9553, ISSN: 2223-9944

Academic Research International Vol. 4 No. 6 November 2013

CONSONANTS OF PAKISTANI ENGLISH: A STUDY OF /Θ/& /Ð/

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Transcriptions of words show some common variations in pronunciation of consonant /th/

Those /ðoz/ /doz/

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent

53.33 1 10.0 10.0 10.0

60.00 1 10.0 10.0 20.0

Total 10 100.0 100.0

Table 4. Female /d/

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent

33.33 8 80.0 80.0 80.0

40.00 1 10.0 10.0 90.0

Total 10 100.0 100.0

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent

Valid .00 10 100.0 100.0 100.0

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent

53.33 2 20.0 20.0 20.0

60.00 1 10.0 10.0 30.0

Total 10 100.0 100.0

Table 7. Male /d/

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent

33.33 7 70.0 70.0 70.0

40.00 1 10.0 10.0 80.0

46.66 1 10.0 10.0 100.0

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent

Valid .00 10 100.0 100.0 100.0

September 2008 (pp. 345-350). Brisbane: Australia. http://www.cjnse-

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