Posters

Intelligibility of Varieties of English and Listeners’ Language Learning Backgrounds

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Abstract

This study investigated how the English proficiency and the study abroad (SA) experience of native Japanese learners of English who learn English as a foreign language (EFL) affectstheir actual levels of understanding of accent varieties and their confidence to understand them. Forty-two Japanese EFL learners listened to seven speakers (from USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, Taiwan, and Japan). Theyanswered a total of 21 multiple-choice questions for measuring intelligibility and gave ratings for the measurement of confidence in understanding the content. The results indicated that the listener’s English proficiency influenced confidence and intelligibility more than the SA experience. The effects of accent variation were small, although Taiwanese-accented English was related toboth confidence and intelligibility.

How to Cite:

Nagamine, T., (2019) “Intelligibility of Varieties of English and Listeners’ Language Learning Backgrounds”, Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Proceedings 11(1).