The pedagogical importance of consonantal features of the English of Malaysia and Singapore

Abstract

The consonantal system typical of mesolectal speech of English in Malaysia and Singapore (EMS) is described, and the differences noted between this and the general English consonant system. Four categories of difference may be found (systemic, realisational, struc tural and selectional), of which the most serious consequences is loss of intelligibility. The importance of these differences is assessed by reference to various criteria, including the occurrence and prestige/ stigmatisation of EMS features in other accents, the maintenance of perceptual distance between realisations, and the frequency of occur rence of features in connected speech. On the basis of these criteria, priorities are established for EMS language teachers.