An Acoustic Study of Iraqi EFL Learners’ Utilization of English Aspiration

Many researches have dealt with Voice Onset Time (VOT) in English and Arabic. However, none of these researches have investigated the utilization of the phenomenon of aspiration in English language related to Iraqi EFL learners. This study aims to make a connection between the theoretical aspects of aspiration (acoustic analysis of VOT of English aspirated plosives in relation to certain variables affecting VOT values) and learning English aspiration. Eighteen Iraqi EFL learners who are randomly selected from fourth year students, English Department, College of Education for Humanities, University of Mosul have participated in this study. VOT values of the English voiceless plosives are measured as far as aspiration is concerned followed by the three long vowels /i:, u:, a:/, in initial, intervocalic and final positions in the carrier phrase "say----again. Results show the following: VOT averages of [p , t , k ] in carrier phrase increase gradually and their VOT values seem to be equal in all positions. In addition, they display less aspiration than English native speakers do. This is due to VOT values that are lower than the the English VOT values. Moreover, they produce English voiceless aspirated plosives in the same manner of producing Arabic voiceless plosives. Iraqi EFL learners mispronunciation is similar to the mispronunciation of other Arab EFL learners of different mother tongue accents. Thus, Iraqi EFL learners need further training of the voiceless plosives to enhance intelligibility and hence successful utilization of plosives as far as English aspiration is concerned.