Acoustic Analysis of Consonants of Pakistani English

Abstract

The current study aims at investigating the acoustic properties of consonants of Pakistani English to determine whether they are realised like native-Englishes or differently, and whether they are same in number or different from their native counter-parts. The study was limited to the investigation of plosives. The participants were selected from among the students of MA English and MPhil English enrolled in The University of Lahore. Certain parameters were pre-determined regarding the selection of the participants including age, ethnicity, ability to communicate in English in different situations, and exposure to English, etc. Word-list recordings were made using hi-tech equipment in a noise free atmosphere. For acoustic analysis and formant measurement, Praat was used. To determine whether the differences in formants were significant, statistical analysis was also performed. The results show that there was significant difference in the realisation of the consonants. It was also determined that they were different in number too, as compared to other native varieties of English. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that Pakistani English is a different variety of English with its idiosyncratic features regarding its consonant phonemes.