Abstract
Pronunciation accuracy plays an important role for effective communication in the context of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning. In Cirebon, a city in West Java with a distinct local dialect, students often experience difficulties in placing English word stress when pronouncing English words. However, research that specifically explores how the Cirebonese dialect affects students’ word stress is still very limited. This study aims to identify patterns of English word stress misplacement in multisyllabic nouns and adjectives, especially the placement of primary stress across syllables, and to examine the factors influencing these patterns when students pronounce English words. A qualitative research design was employed. Data were collected through a questionnaire to explore students’ linguistic backgrounds and through audio recordings of students pronouncing selected English words. The data were analyzed to determine the word stress misplacement and the contributing factors. The findings reveal that students frequently misplace primary stress in multisyllabic words, by shifting stress from one syllable to other syllable. The first language (L1) interference plays an important role in students’ English word stress production. This interference related to the differences between the prosodic systems of language and the students’ frequent use of the dialect in daily communication. This study concludes that dialectal background plays a crucial role in shaping students’ English word stress, highlighting the need for more targeted pronunciation instruction, such as phonological awareness and pronunciation teaching strategies in EFL classrooms.