The difference in the pronunciation of Arabic letters between Arabic students and non-Arabic students

Learning Arabic is not just about grammar or reading texts; mastering pronunciation is equally important, as every language has its own unique sounds and phonetic structure, including Arabic. So, do Arabic major students find it easier to pronounce the language correctly compared to those from other fields? This blog explores the differences in pronunciation between Arabic majors and non-Arabic majors.

1. Arabic Major Students: Accustomed to Accurate Pronunciation

Students who major in Arabic are usually more familiar with its sounds from an early age or prior exposure (ZULFIDA, 2024). This gives them an advantage in Arabic pronunciation because of the daily communication language or their second language. 

Advantages:

• More Trained Tongue: Arabic major students are used to the unique sounds like, ع (ain), غ (ghain), and خ (khaa). Their tongues are more flexible in producing these sounds accurately, making them more fluent in pronouncing Arabic words. (AL-MUBAROK,2018)
• Authentic Sound: Since Arabic may be their first language or one they've studied for years, their intonation and accent are closer to native speakers. ( LUTHFIA,2014), ( NAIMAH ET AL, 2005)

2.Non-Arabic Major Students: Challenges in Pronunciation

Non-Arabic major students often struggle with Arabic pronunciation because their native languages, like English, which do not contain the distinctive sounds found in Arabic. This makes it more challenging for them to master Arabic pronunciation accurately.  (O'CONNER,1985) 

Challenges:

• Familiarity with Other Language Pronunciations: Non-Arabic major students are more likely to communicate in English or their native language (O'CONNER,1985), where sounds like th or v are common. However, sounds in Arabic, such as ص (sad) and ط (ta), may be harder for them to produce.
• Sounds Not Found in Other Languages: Many sounds in Arabic, such as ق (qaf) and ح (haa), do not exist in English or their native language, causing their pronunciation to differ. (SAHABUDDIN,2003)
• Influence of Other Languages: Non-Arabic major students may struggle to produce Arabic sounds accurately and tend to pronounce them based on their English or native language pronunciation. (AINI, 2007)