PERMULAAN UMUR BAGI MASALAH KEKERASAN LIDAH DALAM KALANGAN ORANG MELAYU DALAM PENYEBUTAN HURUF ARAB

Abstract

The issue of the onset age for phonological fossilization among second language learners is often debated. There are many studies on this phonological fossilization problem conducted in Western countries. However, the study still can not be generalized to the context of the Malays in Malaysia. This study focuses only on one of the main objectives which is to identify the onset of age who are classified as the starting point for the problem of phonological fossilization among Malays towards Arabic pronunciation. This study is a quantitative study using quasi-experimental design. The sample was selected among Malays who aged six to sixteen years of a total of 22 people around Putrajaya. All study samples were found to be healthy from any permanent defects in the articulatory organs. All study samples were grouped into one treatment group only. Data were collected through pronunciation recording of 10 phonemes consonants identified as the most difficult letters for non-native speakers based on Mahjub’s Theory (1993). Arabic phoneme pronunciation for all consonants by each respondent was recorded using a high quality MARANTZ C03U USB multi-pattern condenser. Data analysis in the form of descriptive analysis is done to obtain the values of frequency, percentage and mean and described descriptively. The recording data was also evaluated by two examiners who are experts in the field of the al-Quran. The results showed that the starting age for phonological fossilization among Malays is as early as six years old.