AN ANALYSIS OF HINDKO LEXICAL STRESS PATTERN INFLUENCE ON ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN ABBOTTABAD, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Abstract

Background: Accurate stress placement is fundamental for intelligible English pronunciation, yet learners whose first language (L1) follows a different rhythmic system often face persistent challenges. Hindko, spoken widely in northern Pakistan, is a syllable-timed language, whereas English is stress-timed, creating substantial phonological distance between the two systems. This contrast affects how Hindko speakers perceive and produce prominence in English, particularly regarding pitch, intensity, and vowel reduction.

Objective: To examine how native Hindko stress patterns influence the pronunciation of English words, identify common stress-related errors, and assess the extent of L1 interference among Hindko-speaking university students.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional design was implemented. Thirty native Hindko speakers from a university in Abbottabad were recruited using purposive sampling. Ten English words of varying syllable structures were selected from the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary. Each participant produced all ten words in a controlled recording environment. High-fidelity acoustic data were captured using an Olympus LS-100 recorder and analyzed through Praat Software to examine pitch contours, vowel duration, intensity levels, and stress placement accuracy.

Results: Participants correctly pronounced 3 out of 10 words (30%) and incorrectly pronounced 7 out of 10 words (70%). All multisyllabic words, including conversation, population, and information, were mispronounced by 100% of speakers. Acoustic measurements showed minimal pitch contrast between stressed and unstressed syllables and negligible vowel reduction. Disyllabic words (believe, teacher, water) demonstrated uniform intensity distribution, confirming consistent stress neutralization.

Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that Hindko rhythmic patterns significantly interfere with English stress placement, resulting in systematic mispronunciation. Targeted phonetic training focusing on stress timing, vowel reduction, and prominence cues is essential to support Hindko speakers in achieving clearer and more intelligible English pronunciation.