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ERIC Number: EJ936425
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Sep
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0883-2919
EISSN: N/A
Asian Varieties of English: Attitudes towards Pronunciation
Tokumoto, Mina; Shibata, Miki
World Englishes, v30 n3 p392-408 Sep 2011
According to previous studies, Japanese EFL learners who wish to acquire American or British English pronunciation are reluctant to speak their L1-accented English. In view of this tendency, the present study examined the attitudes of Asian learners toward their L1-accented English. University students from Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia evaluated their English pronunciation by responding to a questionnaire. The results of the survey revealed the extent to which their acceptance of their English accents differs: the Malaysian students highly valued their accented English, while the Japanese and Koreans disapproved of their own varieties of English and indicated their preference for native English pronunciation. In particular, the Japanese participants' negative attitude toward their Japanese-accented English was found to be the greatest among the three groups. The distinct trend among the groups will be discussed with consideration of the historical and political backgrounds in the societies which might have impacted on the process of constructing L2 learners' language identity. These backgrounds should have a substantial influence on current educational policy and social actions in each country. Finally, pedagogical implications for English education in Japan will be argued discussed.
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Japan; Malaysia; South Korea
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A