A Comparison of Phonemes Between Chinese and Italian and Its Application in Pronunciation Teaching

Abstract

This paper examines the phonemes of Chinese and Italian, conducting a statistical analysis and comparing their distinctive feature oppositions to identify challenges in phonetic learning, thereby offering suggestions for teaching Chinese and Italian pronunciation. The study is divided into four parts: the first introduces the phonological definition of phonemes and delineates their scope in this context; the second compares the vowel and consonant systems of both languages, presenting foundational data on their similarities; the third analyzes the phonemic oppositions unique to each language, highlighting key differences; and the fourth proposes methods and recommendations for mastering the phonetic systems of both languages based on these differences.