A Contrastive Analysis of English and French Consonant Systems and Implications for Language Learning

Abstract

A contrastive study of the systems of the second language and the mother tongue of language learners is one of the most effective ways of language teaching and learning. Apart from other factors, including psychological and pedagogical factors, mother-tongue interference seems to be the major problem facing language learners. In this analysis, that focused French and English consonant sound systems, contrasts were made in the consonant sounds and areas of differences in the two systems identified. This explains why French speakers who learn English language and vice versa often have pronunciation difficulties because of some differences in the sounds and even in areas of articulation of the sounds. Where some sounds in one language do not exist in the other, it becomes even more tasking to learn the language. This paper, therefore, made an analysis of the consonant sounds of both English and French languages and recommended that learning results are best when a contrastive presentation of both a target language and the mother tongue of the learner is presented to the learner. This will enable such a learner to know the correct target form and work toward achieving it, at least, to an intelligible level.