Research Setting RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

61 The second practical step requires another approach, which is associated with the acoustic properties of speech sounds; the acoustic phonetics. This second approach to phonetics contrastive analysis requires the contrastivist to do two things. First, to compare L1 and L2 sounds in the way they are common physically and second, to note the differences accompanying this similarity. James 1980, p. 73 elaborates it further by mentioning that while the difference of two sounds, each belonging to L1 and L2, can be traced to an articulatory source, it is easier to be demonstrated and described in physical, acoustic terms. For example, in comparing the initial [p] consonant of the English word pal with the Cantonese word [pa ʊ] 抱 „to embrace‟. Articulation wise, the initial [p] found in both words are similar, but they are not exactly the same since the [p] in pal is aspirated, while the [p] in [pa ʊ] 抱 is „un‟-aspirated. This example is provided simply to elaborate the argument that this acoustic phonetic approach brings details to the comparison as it has the ability to „deepen‟ it by adding the „aspiration‟ feature. According to James‟ 1980 theory on this technique, together with its two approaches, the writer had conducted four steps to execute a contrastive analysis of the consonants of English and Cantonese. Before the explanation on how the writer applied the data analysis technique to answer the research problems, it should be noted that in this research, Cantonese is L1 and English is L2. This is due to the cons ideration that one of this research‟s purposes has to do with helping Cantonese EFL learners. 62 The first step of the data analysis technique is providing the phonemic inventory of English and Cantonese. So in this step, the writer, acting as the contrastivist had the list of all the cardinal consonants of the two contrasted languages inventoried these inventory table is an adaptation of the IPA charts, like what can be seen in the second chapter of this research. By conducting this step, the writer acquired the total number of the consonants of English and Cantonese, together with their place of articulation, manner of articulation, and whether they are voiced or voiceless. The first step involves articulatory phonetics approach. Concerning this descriptive first step, however, James 1980 says that, “it is not really part of Contrastive Analysis since for most languages a phonemic inventory will already have been made available by the phonologist. The contrastivist‟s task consists in equating phonological categories across the two languages ”. According to him, the consonants of L1 and L2 can indeed “conveniently be classified according to place and manner of articulation and placed in the appropriate cell of the IPA chart, with voicelessvoiced pairs e.g. p : b appearing in this order consistently p. 75 ”. Based on this explanation, it can be concluded that this step is still significant, necessary and feasible to be conducted in this research. The following tables illustrate the kind of table that is used in re-presenting the inventories to be analyzed.