Theoretical Framework REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

55 However, considering the nature of the problems, the objectives of the research, and as well as the descriptive nature of the research findings, the writer suggested that the proper method required by this research is a qualitative one. There are two reasons to explain why this research is categorized as a qualitative research. The first reason is that it is due to the detail of the data provided in this research. Concerning this reason, Harwell 2011 conveys that qualitative research has to do with “a detailed exploration of a topic interest in which information is collected by a writer ” through various qualitative-based methods p. 148. The second reason is because of the inductive-approach nature that emerged in this research. Patton 1983, in his review on qualitative research methodology explains that “qualitative measurement has to do with the kinds of data and information that are collected,” and he further implied that a group of data can be included as qualitative data if it contains detail and depth descriptions of the studied issue. In this research, the writer emphasizes the detail of the analyzed data. As the writer thoroughly compares Cantonese and English consonant speech-sounds, he describes how each of the studied sound is being articulated throughout the organs of speech, and how it is being processed acoustically in the tract. Patton 1983 also mentions that “qualitative design begins with specific observations and builds toward general pattern”. This nature of inductive approach can be found in the manner that this research was indeed conducted with this very way of conduction. The discussion on the inductive steps taken in this research will be discussed in the research procedure section. 56 Among various available qualitative methods, the writer used the library research method as the most proper method to answer the research problems. The steps within the main framework of the research are to read, to observe, to collect data from various references related to the topic of the research, and to use the supportive and relevant collected data to help the writer in finding the answers to the formulated problems. The references of this research include books, academic journals and articles, theses, graphics, audio, or video files consisting theories of English and Cantonese speech-sounds, as well as discussions on the basic theories of English and Cantonese phonetics. The writer used the method because he intended to compare only the standard way of pronunciation of both the specific RP English and Guangzhou-styled Cantonese‟s studied consonants. And the standard version of pronunciation, which is free of any local-accent contamination, as well as the other regional dialects of Cantonese, can only be found in the official or scientific sources, like some educational books, scientific journals and articles, and audio-visual files that were written or made by experts. Therefore, the writer did not conduct any interviews since the local-accent contamination potentials are inevitable. The library research method also matches the obligatory prerequisite of the conduct of a study on contrastive phonetics, which is “by taking as the criterion for comparison the articulatory grid employed in the IPA chart” James, 1980, p. 72. It should be noted that this kind of data can be found in such sources as mentioned previously. 57 Another consideration of why the writer did not conduct any interviews is due to the really limited member of the expected interviewees. According to the observation previously done by the writer in his search for the right interviewee February 2 until February 25, 2012, the writer found out that, Guangzhou Cantonese native speakers in Yogyakarta were at that time, rare to be found. The observation proved that not even four interviewees were available. Hence, the conduct of qualitative interviews in the moment this research was written was infeasible.

3.2 Research Setting

There are two places where the research was conducted. The first place is Sanata Dharma University Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Specifically, it was conducted at the library of Sanata Dharma University, which is located at Mrican, Yogyakarta. The second place is the writer ‟s residence at Demangan Baru, Sleman, Yogyakarta. The internet connections provided at both locations have helped the writer in conducting his research, especially during the data gathering phase. This research was conducted from late February 2012 until the end of June 2012. Both the data collecting phase and the data analysis phase were completed in the middle of March 2012. The rest of the period was the research‟s report writing process. In within the process there was the implementation of both the chosen research method, and the theories of related literature to help the writer with the data analysis in answering the research problems. 58

3.3 Research Data

The data were Cantonese and English consonants, each can be categorized based on its place and manner of articulation. Therefore, the objects of the study were books, journals, articles, graphic files, audio files, and video files that feature and discuss these sounds on how they can be produced and should be accepted. The data gathered from the resources was compared to each other and analyzed in terms of their similarities and differences and became evidences. These evidences were the findings of this research, and these findings lead to the answers to the formulated research problems. The research subjects function as both basis and focus of the research.

3.4 Data Gathering Technique

The writer gathered the data through various processes within the scope of library study. In finding relevant and reliable theory and data for the research, the writer had undergone the process of studying in the library of Sanata Dharma University Yogyakarta. In this process, the writer read and studied various relevant and reliable books concerning the theories on phonetics and phonology, English and Cantonese speech sounds, and pronunciation learning. There were also books on the noted history of English learning in Guangzhou that explain the going-on learning process from the time of colonialism up to the modern time as mentioned in the background, qualitative research methods, library study methodology, contrastive analysis and lasts but not least, under-graduate theses applying micro-linguistic contrastive analysis study on two different languages.