SOUND CHANGE MECHANISMS IN ENGLISH AND INDONESIAN: A CONTRASTIVE PHONOLOGICAL APPROACH TO EFL INSTRUCTION
Abstract
This study investigates sound change mechanisms in English and Indonesian through a contrastive phonological approach, with the aim of identifying similarities and differences between the two languages, exploring learning difficulties experienced by students, and proposing pedagogical implications for teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL). A qualitative research design was adopted, and the data were collected through documentation techniques and analyzed descriptively. The results reveal two major similarities and three major differences in sound change between English and Indonesian. The similarities involve regressive and progressive sound changes at the single-word level and in prefixation. In contrast, the differences are observed in regressive, progressive, and reciprocal sound changes at the two-word level, in suffixation and circumfixation, which are identified as unfamiliar features that may cause learning difficulties. The pedagogical implications of this study provide practical instructional guidelines for developing more systematic and effective pronunciation practices related to sound change mechanisms.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Abrar, M., Mukminin, A., Habibi, A., Asyrafi, F., Makmur, & Marzulina, L. (2018). If our English isn’t a language, what is it? Indonesian EFL student teachers’ challenges in speaking English. The Qualitative Report, 23(1), 129. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol23/iss1/9
Ahmed, S. K., Mohammed, R. A., Nashwan, A. J., Ibrahim, R. H., Abdalla, A. Q., Ameen, B. M. M., & Khdhir, R. M. (2025). Using thematic analysis in qualitative research. Journal of Medicine, Surgery and Public Health, 6, 100198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glmedi.2025.100198
Akhyaruddin, Harahap, E. P., & Yusra, H. (2020). Fonologi Bahasa Indonesia. Komunitas Gemulun Indonesia.
Al-Khresheh, M. H. (2016). A review study of contrastive analysis theory. International Journal of Advances in Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(6), 330–338.
Al Faris, S., Tsania, I. L., & Badrih, M. (2024). Perubahan bunyi bahasa pada proses peluluhan tata bahasa Indonesia: Kajian fonologi. Jurnal Onoma: Pendidikan Bahasa Dan Sastra, 10(2), 2071–2079. https://doi.org/10.30605/onoma.v10i2.3670
Bauer, L. (2023). English phonetics, phonology and spelling for the English language teacher. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032637020
Cho, T., Kim, S., & Mitterer, H. (2026). Linguistic and cognitive functions of fine phonetic detail underlying sound systems and sound change. Journal of Phonetics, 114, 765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wocn.2025.101470
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2023). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (5 (ed.)). SAGE Publications.
Dahal, N. (2025). Qualitative data analysis: Reflections, procedures, and some points for consideration. Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics, 10, 1669578. https://doi.org/10.3389/frma.2025.1669578
Diani, I., & Azwandi. (2021). Phonological change processes of English and Indonesian. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Literature, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.33369/joall.v6i1.13642
Evans, N., & Levinson, S. C. (2021). The myth of language universals: Language diversity and its importance for cognitive science. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 44, e2. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X2000032X
Fabbro, F., Fabbro, A., & Crescentini, C. (2022). The nature and function of languages. Languages, 7(4), 303. https://doi.org/10.3390/languages704303
Goyanes, M., Lopezosa, C., & Jordá, B. (2025). Thematic analysis of interview data with ChatGPT. Quality & Quantity, 59, 5491–5510. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-025-02199-3
Hyman, L. M. (2022). Phonological theory and the structure of sound systems. Linguistic Inquiry, 53(2), 235–278. https://doi.org/10.1162/ling_a_00432
Karlina, Y., Rahman, A., & Chowdhury, R. (2020). Designing phonetic alphabets for Bahasa Indonesia (PABI) for the teaching intelligible English pronunciation in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 9(3), 724–732. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v9i3.23223
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Data analysis and interpretation in qualitative research. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-ql-rchfr-mth-08
Khansir, A. A., & Pakdel, F. (2019). Contrastive analysis hypothesis and second language learning. Journal of ELT Research, 4(1), 35–43.
Nedjar, D. (2025). Contrastive linguistics for language acquisition and learning: An analytical study. International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science, 2(46). https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(46).2025.3381
Orazbaeva, F. S., Ryskulova, A. D., Orazaliyeva, E. N., & Rauandina, A. K. (2025). Generative cognitive model of linguistics structure and thought process in the Kazakh language. Journal of Linguistics and Language, 3(1), 17–37. https://doi.org/10.61978/lingua.v3i1.617
Papazian, E. (2025). The linguistic sign and the subsystems of language. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 13(1), 11–18. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20251301.13
Ramadhanti, T., Syahri, I., & Sulaiman, M. (2023). English and Indonesian letter-writing. English Community Journal, 7(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.32502/ecj.v7i1
Rattanasak, S. (2025). Phonological processes in English connected speech: implications for L2 speech learning and communication Phonological processes in English connected speech: implications for L2 speech learning and communication.Cogent Education, 12 (1) https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2472474
Rustamana, A., Adillah, P. M., Maharani, N. K., & Fayyedh, F. A. (2024). Qualitative research methods. Indonesian Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Technology, 2(6), 919–930. https://doi.org/10.55927/marcopolo.v2i6.9907
Shokirova, K. (2025). The semiotic system and structure of language. Emergent: Journal of Educational Discoveries and Lifelong Learning, 6(3), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.47134/emergent.v4i1.65
Stenbrenden, G. F. (2025). Phonological Change BT - The new Cambridge history of the English language (J. C. Beal (ed.); pp. 198–223). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009205870.010
Sukirmiyadi. (2018). The role of contrastive analysis in translation study. International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature, 6(9), 30–34.
Sulaiman, M., Syahri, I., & Saputri, K. (2022). A contrastive analysis between English and Indonesian copulative verbs. English Community Journal, 6(1), 36–45.
Syahri, I., Sulaiman, M., & Susanti, R. (2025). Metodologi penelitian bahasa: Panduan praktis, metode dan analisis penelitian bahasa (1st ed.). Noerfikri Offset.
Thyab, R. A. (2022). A contrastive analysis of relative clause grammar in both Arabic and English. Rimak International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(1), 231–237. http://dx.doi.org/10.47832/2717-8293.15.17
Zen, E. L. (2020). Role of regional language background and speech styles on the production of voice onset time (VOT) in English among Indonesian multilingualism. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 10(2), 359–368. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v10i2.28604
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32502/ecj.v10i1.10926
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 English Community Journal
The Departement of English Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Palembang
Jl. Jenderal A. Yani 13 Ulu, Seberang Ulu II, Palembang (30263), Indonesia.
Indexed by :
English Community Journal has been listed in :

English Community Journal by http://jurnal.um-palembang.ac.id/index.php/englishcommunity is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.






