American attitudes toward accented English

This study draws on previous research (e.g., Labov, 1969; Carranza & Ryan, 1975; Brennan & Brennan, 1981; Alford & Strother, 1990) which has revealed and confirmed the many language stereotypes and biases in existence in the United States The present study differs from earlier investi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Eisenhower, Kristina
Other Authors: Lyster, Roy (advisor)
Format: Others
Language:en
Published: McGill University 2002
Subjects:
Online Access:http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=79762
id ndltd-LACETR-oai-collectionscanada.gc.ca-QMM.79762
record_format oai_dc
spelling ndltd-LACETR-oai-collectionscanada.gc.ca-QMM.797622014-02-13T03:51:46ZAmerican attitudes toward accented EnglishEisenhower, KristinaLanguage and languages -- VariationLanguage awarenessAttitude (Psychology)Accents and accentuationThis study draws on previous research (e.g., Labov, 1969; Carranza & Ryan, 1975; Brennan & Brennan, 1981; Alford & Strother, 1990) which has revealed and confirmed the many language stereotypes and biases in existence in the United States The present study differs from earlier investigations in that it specifically addresses the current-day attitudes of American English speakers toward a selection of accents that include both native (U.S. regional) and nonnative (foreign or ethnic) accents of English.The purpose of the present study was to determine the evaluative reactions of an American-born audience toward accented English speech. Fifty-three American college students listened to an audio recording of eight accented English speakers, four representing regional U.S. accent groups and four representing ethnic or foreign accent groups. The students' evaluative reactions indicated favoritism toward the American English speakers with a consistent downgrading of the ethnic speakers. Analysis of the personality ratings suggests that participants based their judgments to some extent on their perceptions of the accented speakers in terms of three dimensions: appeal, accommodation and aspiration. The conceptual affinity of these three dimensions and the subsequent revelation of three-dimensional model of "absolute accommodation" are discussed.This exploratory study clearly implies a need for further research, particularly into educational programs or interventions aimed at countering the negative attitudes and stereotypes associated with language variety.McGill UniversityLyster, Roy (advisor)2002Electronic Thesis or Dissertationapplication/pdfenalephsysno: 001980878proquestno: AAIMQ88636Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest.All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.Master of Arts (Department of Integrated Studies in Education.) http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=79762
collection NDLTD
language en
format Others
sources NDLTD
topic Language and languages -- Variation
Language awareness
Attitude (Psychology)
Accents and accentuation
spellingShingle Language and languages -- Variation
Language awareness
Attitude (Psychology)
Accents and accentuation
Eisenhower, Kristina
American attitudes toward accented English
description This study draws on previous research (e.g., Labov, 1969; Carranza & Ryan, 1975; Brennan & Brennan, 1981; Alford & Strother, 1990) which has revealed and confirmed the many language stereotypes and biases in existence in the United States The present study differs from earlier investigations in that it specifically addresses the current-day attitudes of American English speakers toward a selection of accents that include both native (U.S. regional) and nonnative (foreign or ethnic) accents of English. === The purpose of the present study was to determine the evaluative reactions of an American-born audience toward accented English speech. Fifty-three American college students listened to an audio recording of eight accented English speakers, four representing regional U.S. accent groups and four representing ethnic or foreign accent groups. The students' evaluative reactions indicated favoritism toward the American English speakers with a consistent downgrading of the ethnic speakers. Analysis of the personality ratings suggests that participants based their judgments to some extent on their perceptions of the accented speakers in terms of three dimensions: appeal, accommodation and aspiration. The conceptual affinity of these three dimensions and the subsequent revelation of three-dimensional model of "absolute accommodation" are discussed. === This exploratory study clearly implies a need for further research, particularly into educational programs or interventions aimed at countering the negative attitudes and stereotypes associated with language variety.
author2 Lyster, Roy (advisor)
author_facet Lyster, Roy (advisor)
Eisenhower, Kristina
author Eisenhower, Kristina
author_sort Eisenhower, Kristina
title American attitudes toward accented English
title_short American attitudes toward accented English
title_full American attitudes toward accented English
title_fullStr American attitudes toward accented English
title_full_unstemmed American attitudes toward accented English
title_sort american attitudes toward accented english
publisher McGill University
publishDate 2002
url http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=79762
work_keys_str_mv AT eisenhowerkristina americanattitudestowardaccentedenglish
_version_ 1716640492498714624