Data Sets

Brunei

ASEAN

Indonesian + Taiwanese — Ind2 : 1253

S1 = Taiwanese female
S2 = Indonesian male

Context: S2 is talking about his family background.

S2 : ... er when my father sent me to school of course then i: now i guide my: (.) brother my sister <1> meaning </1>

S1 : <1> are you </1> the oldest

S2 : i er i am: er the living old- eldest and such

Intended Words: living

Heard as: leading

Discussion: Even when this was made louder and played back to S1, she was unable to hear the word as living (until it was pointed out). There may be a lack of distinction between long and short vowels on the part of S2, which is why the vowel in the first syllable of living is heard as the long vowel [i:] instead of the short vowel [ɪ]. However, the medial fricative [v] is reasonably clear, so there is nothing particularly unusual about hte pronunciation of the word.

The syntax is perhaps a bit unexpected. If he had said 'I am the oldest living', then maybe it would have been understood. But 'I am the living oldest' was difficult for S1 to understand.