Browsing by Subject "Outer and Expanding Circles"

This thesis reports a qualitative inquiry into the relationship between non-native English accents and identity from the perspective of non-native English speakers from non-linguistic study backgrounds. While there is a growing body of literature regarding native and non-native English accents, the way in which identities are perceived through non-native English speaker accents from the perspective of non-linguists remains understudied. The reason to look at the co-relation between non-native speaker accents and identity is that, although the link between native accents and social identity has been well established, it seems that non-native speaker accents and identity is a subject that needs further exploration. Using data collected via ten in-depth interviews with research participants from Kachru’s (1985) Outer and Expanding circles, this study aims to explore the language attitudes of research participants in relation to how they construe identities. A bipartite semi-structured interview guide was designed to explore 1) attitudes of the participants towards their own non-native English accents and 2) attitudes towards other non-native speakers’ English accents. Verbal-guise technique was employed to investigate the instantaneous reactions of the research participants towards six authentic non-native English accents they listened to in the second part of the interview. The study brings to light that one’s language attitudes have developed over time with various factors contributing to it: 1) one’s initial exposure to English, 2) formal English education and 3) societal perceptions towards English accents. Participants’ discussions of their experiences reveal that there is a complex relationship between their attitudes towards non-native English accents and how they construe identities of speakers. When it comes to how self-identity is construed through English accents, one’s desire to hold on to/change a non-native English accent often (but not always) shows one’s need to project/conceal one’s socio-linguistic identity. However, intelligibility in communication is seen as the driving factor that determines one’s attitudes towards other non-native speakers’ English accents. The study illustrates that one’s ability to negotiate their English accent/s depending on varied socio-economic contexts allows their socio-linguistic identities to be (re)fashioned, foregrounding the fluid nature of identity; that identity is never fixed, it can be multiple, or even at times be contested.