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International Journal Of Literature And Languages

Peer Reviewed | Open Access | E-ISSN: 2771-2834
Published Article

Optimizing English Pronunciation Instruction for Hanzhonghua Speakers: A Transfer-Based Model for Reducing Cross-Linguistic Phonological Interference

Optimizing English Pronunciation Instruction for Hanzhonghua Speakers: A Transfer-Based Model for Reducing Cross-Linguistic Phonological Interference

  • Faisal Abdullah Al-Harbi
    Department of English Language and Literature, Arabian Institute of Humanities, Saudi Arabia
Hanzhonghua English pronunciation language transfer

English pronunciation difficulties among speakers of Hanzhonghua can be understood partly through the interaction between first-language phonological patterns and the target English sound system. This research develops a transfer-based instructional model designed to identify, prioritize, and reduce cross-linguistic phonological interference affecting English pronunciation among Hanzhonghua-speaking learners. The study adopts a qualitative, theory-driven research and review design based exclusively on the provided literature. Its theoretical foundation integrates language-transfer theory, pronunciation pedagogy, intelligibility and comprehensibility perspectives, second-language research methodology, learner autonomy, and approaches to intonation and discourse. The proposed model consists of five interconnected stages: phonological contrast identification, interference diagnosis, targeted perceptual training, controlled production, and communicative transfer with learner self-monitoring. Particular attention is given to the distinction between pronunciation accuracy and communicative effectiveness, since pronunciation instruction should ultimately support intelligibility and comprehensibility rather than merely approximate native-speaker norms. The analysis indicates that a Hanzhonghua-focused instructional framework should move beyond generalized pronunciation correction and instead establish explicit links between likely first-language influence, perceptual discrimination, articulatory practice, prosodic organization, and communicative performance. The model provides a structured pedagogical architecture that can be adapted to English-major classrooms in Shaanxi Province while recognizing the limitations of generalizing from dialect-level tendencies to individual learners. The study contributes a systematic framework for integrating transfer analysis with contemporary pronunciation instruction and learner-centered practice.

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