When speakers of languages that lack certain sounds attempt to pronounce English, they may encounter challenges due to differences in phonetic inventory between their native language and English. Some common challenges faced by speakers include difficulties with sounds like “th,” “v,” or “r,” which may not exist or have different forms in their native language.

1. “Th” sound: Many languages do not have the “th” sounds present in English, such as the voiced /ð/ and voiceless /θ/. Speakers may substitute these sounds with close approximations or use sounds from their native language, making their speech less accurate and harder to understand in English.

2. “V” sound: In languages that lack the “v” sound, speakers may replace it with a sound that is more familiar to them, like a voiced bilabial stop /b/. This substitution can lead to misunderstandings and affect the clarity of their speech.

3. “R” sound: The pronunciations of the English “r” sound vary across different English dialects and may be absent in some languages. Speakers may struggle to produce the English “r” sound correctly, resulting in pronunciation errors and potentially hindering effective communication.

Targeted pronunciation exercises can be beneficial in addressing these challenges by helping speakers improve their articulation and accuracy in producing these sounds. Some strategies include:

– Phonetic drills: Practicing the specific sounds that are challenging, such as the English “th,” “v,” or “