AN ANALYSIS OF THE FOURTH YEAR STUDENTS’ ABILITY IN PRONOUNCING VOICED AND VOICELESS DENTAL /ð/, /θ/ AT ENGLISH DEPARTMENT OF BUNG HATTA UNIVERSITY

Abstrak

Abstract

This research was aimed to describe the ability of the fourth year students at English Department of Bung Hatta University in pronouncing voice and voiceless Dental /ð/  /θ/. The design of this research was descriptive. The population of this research was the fourth year students at English Department of Bung Hatta University. The number of population members of this research was 208 students. They were divided into six classes: A, B, C, D, E, F. The researcher used simple random sampling technique, and the size of the sample was 30 students.The instrument used to get the data were a pronunciation test. In analyzing the data based on the result of pronunciation test, the researcher calculated the students’ score, classified the students who get high, moderate and low ability. And the last she counted the percentage of students’ ability.The data of the study were students’ ability in pronouncing voice and voiceless Dental /ð/ /θ/. Generally, the result of data analysis of pronunciation test showed that 2 students (6.67%) got high ability, 25 students (83.3%) got moderate ability, and 3 students (10%) got low ability in pronouncing voiced and 9 students (30%) got high ability, 14 students (46.67%) got moderate ability and 7 students (23.3%) got low ability.Finally, by having known the ability of students in pronouncing voice /ð/ and voiceless /θ/ dental, the students are expected to practice more in pronouncing unfamiliar English sound. Besides, the lecturers are expected to be able to develop their teaching material, and give the students more exercise to produce the sound.

Key word: Ability, pronouncing, voiced dental /ð/, voiceless dental /θ/