The Comparison of Kelantan and Negeri Sembilan Dialect Vowel Inventory

The study focused on a comparison between the vowel inventory of Kelantan and Negeri Sembilan dialect. Previous research has focused on study of only one dialect without making comparison. Therefore, this study was conducted to clarify the similarities and differences of the two dialects inventory surveyed viewed in terms of distinctive features and the spread of the vowels. The theory is applied in this study was the theory of generative phonology. Data collection was performed by using descriptive observations and literature review to identify the vowel systems of both dialects. It found that both phonology pioneer and generative phonology pioneer agree that Kelantan has six vowels, i/, /e/, /ǝ/, /o/,/u/ dan /a/. However, there is disagreement on the amount of vowels for Negeri Sembilan dialect. Phonology pioneer said that there are only five vowels in that dialect because /ǝ/ do not exist in Negeri Sembilan dialect while generative phonology pioneer agreed that /ǝ/ vowel still exist in the underlying representation of the word.