THE APPLICATION OF MINIMAL PAIR TO IMPROVE THE PRONUNCIATION OF VOICEDAND VOICELESS SOUNDS

Abstract

This research was aimed at proving that the application of minimal pair can improve the pronunciation of voiced and voiceless sounds of the eighth grade students of SMPN 13 Palu. The researcher applied a true-experimental research design which involved experimental and control group. The instruments of data collection were test and observation. The data was analyzed by using statistically and descriptively. The result of the data analysis was that the value of the t-counted was 4.093 with degree of freedom (df) of 54-2 = 52 and 0, 05 of critical value, it was found that the value of the t-table was 2. 0063. It showed that the t-counted value was higher than the t-table value. It means that the hypothesis of the research was accepted. Therefore, it could be concluded that the application of minimal pair technique was effective in teaching English pronunciation.

Keywords: Minimal Pair; Pronunciation; Voiced Sounds; Voiceless Sounds.