The Use of Ajami Script to Enhance English Pronunciation among Adult Learners of English with Arabic Script Background

This article investigates the ways Ajami can serve as a teaching aid to enhance English pronunciation among adult Kanuri and Hausa learners in Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria. These learners are already literate in Arabic script through Qur’anic education but often struggle with pronouncing English words because of inconsistencies in English orthography and the absence of some English phonemes in their native languages. Using a multi-method approach and the theories of shaping and consistency, the study transliterated 100 English words into Arabic script and tested their efficacy in pronunciation training. Thirty volunteers participated in a pilot study using Ajami materials. Findings revealed that the Arabic script—especially when modified to accommodate missing English consonantal sounds like /p/, /v/, and /ʒ/, along with diphthongs such as /aʊ/, /əʊ/, /ɪə/, and /ʊə/—provided a more intuitive and accurate framework for learners to decode and pronounce English words. Learners’ prior exposure to phonological features in Qur’anic recitation, such as assimilation and vowel length, also aligned well with elements of English connected speech. The research concludes that Ajamisation, when systematically implemented, can serve as an effective pronunciation teaching strategy and recommends integrating standardized Ajami-based pronunciation charts, modified orthography, and culturally responsive materials into ESL curricula.