Language attitudes, ethnicity and social class in New Zealand

Abstract

The extent to which ethnic speech styles can be detected, and how they and English R.P. are evaluated, have been problematic issues in the small literature devoted to New Zealand speech varieties. In the present study, samples of spontaneous speech of English, Dutch, Maori and Pakeha speakers (from three status groups) were presented on audiotapes to 120 students. Ratings were made on four Social and four Personal Scales, while an attempt to describe type of accent was invited. The results showed that Maori speakers were the least successfully identified by ethnic group. Prestige ratings were: English, Dutch, and then Maori. English and Pakeha speakers were equally prestigeful, though this effect interacts with occupational class: speech styles approximating R.P. were rated highest. Ethnicity was also used as a cue to attribute a limited number of personal stereotypes.