Understanding Accent and Identity on the Border: Exploring Bilinguals’ Perceptions of Intelligibility, Accentedness, and Language-Learning Goals

Although the field of second language (L2) pronunciation teaching has moved toward intelligibility models and goals, several studies have shown that many L2 learners still profess a desire to sound native-like in their L2. This study explores the perspectives of bilinguals who have navigated their...

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Main Author: Shannon McCrocklin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2024-11-01
Series:Ilha do Desterro
Subjects:
Online Access:https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/desterro/article/view/98724
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author Shannon McCrocklin
author_facet Shannon McCrocklin
author_sort Shannon McCrocklin
collection DOAJ
description Although the field of second language (L2) pronunciation teaching has moved toward intelligibility models and goals, several studies have shown that many L2 learners still profess a desire to sound native-like in their L2. This study explores the perspectives of bilinguals who have navigated their accent and identity in two different languages to explore the impact of increasing recognition of links between accent and identity on language-learning goals. Findings show that almost all bilingual participants (97%) recognized links between accent and identity, yet 72% still reported preferring a native accent if they learned a new language today. Intelligibility emerged as a key issue, with those wanting a native accent linking nativeness to increased intelligibility while those rejecting native accents separating the two dimensions (accent and intelligibility) while prioritizing intelligibility.
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spelling doaj-art-e558d7688d69443cb5e101f70d5543ee2025-08-20T02:50:47ZengUniversidade Federal de Santa CatarinaIlha do Desterro0101-48462175-80262024-11-017710.5007/2175-8026.2024.e98724Understanding Accent and Identity on the Border: Exploring Bilinguals’ Perceptions of Intelligibility, Accentedness, and Language-Learning GoalsShannon McCrocklinhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5365-2067 Although the field of second language (L2) pronunciation teaching has moved toward intelligibility models and goals, several studies have shown that many L2 learners still profess a desire to sound native-like in their L2. This study explores the perspectives of bilinguals who have navigated their accent and identity in two different languages to explore the impact of increasing recognition of links between accent and identity on language-learning goals. Findings show that almost all bilingual participants (97%) recognized links between accent and identity, yet 72% still reported preferring a native accent if they learned a new language today. Intelligibility emerged as a key issue, with those wanting a native accent linking nativeness to increased intelligibility while those rejecting native accents separating the two dimensions (accent and intelligibility) while prioritizing intelligibility. https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/desterro/article/view/98724IdentityBilingualismSecond Language LearningIntelligibilityAccent
spellingShingle Shannon McCrocklin
Understanding Accent and Identity on the Border: Exploring Bilinguals’ Perceptions of Intelligibility, Accentedness, and Language-Learning Goals
Ilha do Desterro
Identity
Bilingualism
Second Language Learning
Intelligibility
Accent
title Understanding Accent and Identity on the Border: Exploring Bilinguals’ Perceptions of Intelligibility, Accentedness, and Language-Learning Goals
title_full Understanding Accent and Identity on the Border: Exploring Bilinguals’ Perceptions of Intelligibility, Accentedness, and Language-Learning Goals
title_fullStr Understanding Accent and Identity on the Border: Exploring Bilinguals’ Perceptions of Intelligibility, Accentedness, and Language-Learning Goals
title_full_unstemmed Understanding Accent and Identity on the Border: Exploring Bilinguals’ Perceptions of Intelligibility, Accentedness, and Language-Learning Goals
title_short Understanding Accent and Identity on the Border: Exploring Bilinguals’ Perceptions of Intelligibility, Accentedness, and Language-Learning Goals
title_sort understanding accent and identity on the border exploring bilinguals perceptions of intelligibility accentedness and language learning goals
topic Identity
Bilingualism
Second Language Learning
Intelligibility
Accent
url https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/desterro/article/view/98724
work_keys_str_mv AT shannonmccrocklin understandingaccentandidentityontheborderexploringbilingualsperceptionsofintelligibilityaccentednessandlanguagelearninggoals