how important are word-final consonants?
The instability of word-final consonants in spoken English is regarded as a potential problem for second language (L2) listeners. However, research on first language listening comprehension raises doubts as to whether the sounds at the ends of words are important in the word recognition process. An experiment was conducted to check whether the degree to which word-final consonants are realized affects word recognition. It was found that there was no significant difference in the subjects’ success in recognizing words, regardless of whether the words’ final consonants were fully realized or not. The finding indicates that exercises which focus EFL learners’ attention on sounds at the ends of words make the learners practise a strategy that neither they nor L1 listeners would normally use.
