English Letters and Their Combinations with Varying Sound Values: Challenges and Instructional Strategies for Malayali Learners of English

English letters and their combinations with varying sound values are a significant challenge for Malayali learners of English because of the phonological difference between Malayalam and English. English, with its inconsistent letter-sound correspondence and irregular phonetic rules, contrasts sharply with the more phonetic nature of Malayalam. This phonetic nature of Malayalam leads Malayali learners to pronounce English letters the same way they pronounce Malayalam letters, which affects their speech intelligibility. This article reflects on the challenges Malayali learners encounter with English letters and their combinations with varying sound values, analyses the linguistic and educational factors influencing their pronunciation, and proposes teaching strategies to help them mitigate the difficulties. These strategies enable students to pronounce more effectively and express themselves in English. Recommendations for further research are also proposed to address these challenges effectively.