Revue Hybrides (RALSH)
e-ISSN 2959-8079 / ISSN-L 2959-8060
num. spécial 004, mars 2026
The Rendering of the Vowel Cluster ‘ou’ by EFL Learners in the English Department of the University of Doba (2018-2019)
La prononciation du groupe vocalique ‘ou’ par les apprenants d’Anglais en tant que Langue Étrangère du Département d’Anglais de l’Université de Doba-année académique (2018-2019)
Abstract: This paper investigates the rendition of the vowel cluster ‘ou’ by the First-Year Students in the English Department of the University of Doba, in Chad. The data were collected from 168 informants through a reading text made up of words containing ‘ou’, chosen randomly by the researchers. The reading of the text was recorded by means of a smartphone. The researchers listened to the recording and transcribed the words containing ‘ou’, which enabled them to analyze perceptually the realization of ‘ou’ by the participants.. The results revealed that EFL learners in the English Department of the University of Doba (2018-2019), demonstrate poor performance in the pronunciation of the vowel sequence ‘ou’. As Francophone learners of English, the participants pronounced ‘ou’ /u/ while in RP, that vowel sequence is rendered into seven (7) possible ways. Indeed, 165 students, i.e. (80.35%) of them realized ‘ou’ as /u/ in eight words out of ten in average. This inappropriate pronunciation of ‘ou’ is influenced by French. As solutions, the students are encouraged to get sufficiently exposed to English and to intensively practise that language. Students are also recommended to have and consult relevant dictionaries in order to improve their pronunciation in English. Lecturers are expected to correct students’ mispronunciation during classes. In addition, it is recommended to the administration of the University of Doba to establish and equip a language laboratory in the Department of English. Explicit instruction through organized phonetic lessons should be done along with the practice of focused exercises.
Keywords: Rendition, Vowel cluster, Performance, Language transfer.
Résumé : Cet article étudie la prononciation du groupe vocalique ‘ou’ par les étudiants de première année d’anglais du Département d’anglais de l’Université de Doba au Tchad. Les données ont été recueillies auprès de 168 informateurs au moyen de la lecture d’un texte constitué de mots comportant ‘ou’, choisis au hasard par les chercheurs. La lecture du texte était enregistrée par un téléphone Androïde. Les chercheurs ont écouté et traduit les mots contenant ‘ou’, ce qui leur a permis d’analyser la prononciation de ‘ou’ par les participants. Les résultats ont relevé que les étudiants d’Anglais en tant que Langue Etrangère de l’Université de Doba pour le compte de l’année universitaire 2018-2019, ont de faibles performances dans la prononciation de la séquence vocalique ‘ou’. En tant qu’apprenants francophones, les participants ont prononcé «ou» /u/ alors qu’en RP (Prononciation Reçue) cette séquence vocalique est rendue de 7 manières possibles. En effet, 165 étudiants, soit 83,35% d’entre eux ont réalisé «ou» comme /u/ dans huit mots sur dix en moyenne. Cette prononciation inappropriée de «ou» est influencée par le français. Comme solutions, il est conseillé aux étudiants de s’exposer suffisamment à l’anglais et de pratiquer intensivement cette langue. Il est également recommandé aux étudiants de se procurer et de consulter des dictionnaires pertinents afin d’améliorer leur prononciation en anglais. Les enseignants sont censés corriger les erreurs de prononciation des étudiants pendant les cours. En outre, il est recommandé à l’administration de l’Université de Doba de créer et d’équiper un laboratoire de langues au Département d’Anglais.
Mots-clé : Prononciation, Groupe vocalique, Performance, Transfert linguistique.
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