Investigating the Ability of Sudanese EFL Learners to Produce English Weak Forms

Abstract

Abstract

English function words have two alternat

ive pronunciations, strong and weak. It is

the weak forms that most challenge EFL

learners. The confusion that Sudanese

EFL learners encounter was the rationale

behind carrying out this study. The study

aimed at examining students’ ability in

recognizing and producing the weak forms

and whether their knowledge

about the subject will enab

le them to produce these

weak forms. 115 participants

from two universities were tested using a written test

to determine if they could produce the co

rrect pronunciation of the weak forms or

not, and an oral test to find out whether th

ey use the weak forms

in their speech or

not. Results of descriptive analytic method

s showed that participants were unable

to produce the weak fo

rms both written and orally

. Furthermore students’

knowledge on the subject had no effect on their performance