Abstract

This paper briefly investigates the vowel sounds of English and Bangla language. Keeping the supra-segmental features aside, it mainly focuses on the major segmental similarities and differences of the vowel sound system of these two languages. The paper explores the articulatory system in brief and reviews the vowels sounds of English. An effort has been made to pinpoint and enumerate the difficulties faced by the Bangladeshi learners of English. To do that a group of learners is interviewed giving them words in context and without. Interestingly, a considerable portion of the difficulties of the learners might be attributed to the differences of the vowel system of these two languages. Though not complete and detailed, the writing finally leaves some pedagogical suggestions hoping to contribute to the present teaching and learning of English in general and in Bangladesh in particular.