Bengali and Dutch: A Phonological Contrastive Analysis of the front Monophthongs

Mohammed Shahedul Haque; Nashrah Sharfuddin

doi:10.18778/1731-7533.23.16

Authors

Mohammed Shahedul Haque North South University (NSU) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0238-5878
Nashrah Sharfuddin BRAC University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1731-7533.23.16

Keywords:

Contrastive phonology, front monophthong, interference, mispronunciation, phonological difference, Indo-European languages, Dutch, Bengali

Abstract

This paper investigates the monophthongs of Bengali and Dutch, analyzing the similarities and differences in the phonetic characteristics between the two languages, particularly focusing on front monophthongs. The study determines the challenges faced by Bengali-speaking learners of Dutch (BLD) and Dutch-speaking learners of Bengali (DLB) as a foreign language. Using a quantitative-contrastive phonemic analysis (Haque, 2015; Haque & Jannat, 2022; Haque & Sharfuddin, 2023), the study mathematically demonstrates that BLD learners face greater difficulty in acquiring their target language, as Dutch has twice as many front monophthongs as Bengali. Additionally, no front vowels in both languages share identical phonetic qualities, and there are no mutual phonemes. These phonological differences indicate significant challenges for learners in acquiring their target languages.

Author Biographies

Mohammed Shahedul Haque, North South University (NSU)

Mohammed Shahedul Haque is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English and Modern Languages at North South University (NSU). He holds a Master of Arts in English Language (Linguistics) from the University of Central England in Birmingham (now Birmingham City University), UK. His research interests include phonology, the social dynamics of language, spoken discourse, applied linguistics, ELT, and EAP composition.

Nashrah Sharfuddin, BRAC University

Nashrah Sharfuddin is a Lecturer of English at the BRAC Institute of Languages (BIL), BRAC University. She holds an MA in Applied Linguistics from Cardiff University, UK, and a BA in English (Linguistics) from North South University (NSU). Her research interests include applied linguistics, contrastive phonology, language pedagogy, and language learning strategies.

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