Phonological Features of Philippine English Spoken by Tourism Service Providers

Abstract

Abstract - English, as an international language, is used in the Philippines as official language on communication and instruction in addition to Filipino irregardless of culture, regional origin, dialect, among others. This study determined phonological features in Philippine English used by the tourism service providers who have direct contact to tourists in their locality. Questionnaire, in sentences form, was used in data gathering, which were read by the respondents to elicit their segmental and suprasegmental features and was documented through video/audio recording. Transcribed words from sentences were rated through International Phonetic Alphabet symbols and for suprasegmetal features those were focused on intonation in answering WH/Yes-No questions, and sentences in statement form. Results showed some mispronounced or replaced or interchanged in consonant and vowel sounds. Their suprasegmental features sounded somewhat similar to native speaker. Factors such as age, educational attainment, and geographical location somewhat affect their phonological features. It is a realization as English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher that it is not to push sounding like an English native speaker, but to use the learned English as second language, counting this as our own Philippine English with our own phonological features, noting that there is no extreme communication breakdown. Data of the study can be used by State Colleges and Universities, and other higher education institutions in partnership with the tourism department to design intervention programs as part of their extension program on capability building to tourism service providers.

Keywords -  Philippine English, Phonological Features, Segmental, Suprasegmental