Pronunciation Errors of Indonesian Mandarin Learners

Abstract

Through carefully exploration of the Indonesian Mandarin learners’ recordings, that was conducted at the basic HSKK test, this research describes (1) the Mandarin pronunciation errors of the Indonesian learners in the basic HSKK test, (2) the sources of the Mandarin pronunciation errors of Indonesian at their basic level, and (3) the solution to overcome the Mandarin pronunciation errors of Indonesian learners at their basic level. The data of this study is the Indonesian Mandarin learners’ recordings of the Basic Chinese proficiency oral test (HSKK). The data collection methods used in this research include the test method and the questionnaire method, and the data analysis methods used in this research include the transliteration method, the comparative method and the analytical method. The results show that the Mandarin pronunciation errors of Indonesian learners in the basic HSKK test often occur at the final, initial and tone of Mandarin. Final errors occur at final ü [y], apical–i [ɿ] and–i [ʅ] and compound final, i.e. [iɛ] and üe[yɛ]; initial errors occur at initial inspiration p, t, k, initial retroflex zh, ch, sh, r, and initial palatalization j, q, x. Tone errors occur at four tones, neutral tone and tone changes. As a suprasegmental element, tone errors occupy the majority of the Mandarin learning process for Indonesian students.