Visual vowel mapping and cross-linguistic interference in Indonesian EFL learners’ English pronunciation

Abstract

Pronunciation remains a persistent challenge for Indonesian learners of English, particularly in mastering English vowel contrasts that differ significantly from the Indonesian vowel system. From a cross-linguistic phonological perspective, these difficulties are largely attributed to first language interference, which shapes learners’ perception and production of second language sounds. This study aimed to explore how visual vowel mapping could be used to reveal patterns of cross-linguistic vowel interference among Indonesian EFL learners. Data were collected through classroom observations, audio recordings of learners’ vowel production, and analysis of visual vowel representations used during pronunciation instruction. The findings indicated systematic vowel substitutions and mergers, such as the neutralization of tense–lax vowel contrasts and the transfer of Indonesian vowel categories into English vowel perception. Visual vowel mapping functioned not as a corrective tool per se, but as an analytical and pedagogical medium that enhanced learners’ phonological awareness by making articulatory and acoustic differences visually salient. Interpreted through the framework of cross-linguistic phonology and second language speech learning, the study suggests that visual-based phonological representation can facilitate learners’ noticing of vowel contrasts that are otherwise perceptually inaccessible. This study contributes to qualitative research on pronunciation pedagogy by highlighting the role of visual phonetic tools in understanding vowel interference within the Indonesian EFL context.