Disc Jockeys’ Profile and Oral Performances in the Selected English Vowel Sounds: An Attempt on Relatedness

Abstract

Pronunciation is a key element of the learning of oral skills in a second language. The role it plays in an English language program varies and the amount of time and effort devoted to it seems to depend to a large degree on the linguistic models and environment (Willing, 1988). The study examined the accuracy in the production of the selected English vowel sounds among the pioneering Disc Jockeys of Cool FM, Marawi City, in the year 2004. Moreover, it attempted to find the relatedness in the respondents’ oral performances and in their educational status, length of work experience as a DJ, and exposure to the language outside being a DJ. Three selected faculty members from the English Department of CSSH were consulted to evaluate the oral performances of the respondents. Results showed that high educational status did not affect the respondents’ performances in vowel sound production. Respondents with short work experience as DJs could perform better on the oral test. Respondents who had exposures to the English language outside being a DJ performed better on the oral test. Furthermore, teachers and foreigners were cited as good linguistic models that were described as highly influential in the performances of the respondents.