Consonant Nasalization in Pronouncing Korean Words by Indonesian Learners

Abstract

This study has been motivated by the lack of research on consonant nasalization in pronouncing Korean words in Indonesia. The results of such research can help Korean phonology teachers develop their teaching materials. This study focuses on identifying consonant nasalization in pronouncing Korean words by undergraduate Koreans as foreign language (KFL) students. This study was conducted to determine the most frequently and the least frequently nasalized forms along with the factors. The data in this study were obtained from interviewing 17 participants consisting of 9 female and 8 male students employing questions about pictures that refer to the 60 vocabularies. The study found that the seolcheukeumeui bieumhwa/yueumeui bieumhwa (liquid nasalization) type obtained the highest percentage of realized nasalization (60.88%) with the letter ㅇ[ng] and ㄹ[r]. Meanwhile, the jangae-eum and yueumeui bieumhwa (combination of obstruent and liquid nasalization) type obtained the least percentage of realized nasalization (41.18%) with the letter ㄱ [k] and ㄹ [r]. Some of the factors for the least frequently nasalized Korean words may be related to TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) level obtained by the students.