Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of familiarity with Brazilian-accented English (L2) in the intelligibility of speech samples when judged by native English listeners. Speech samples were collected from five native Brazilian Portuguese individuals from Southern Brazil, with a pre-intermediate level of proficiency in English. Following a Complex Dynamic Systems account (De Bot et al., 2007), this is a longitudinal study in which a group of four British listeners participated in weekly intelligibility transcription tasks, applied over the course of five weeks. This group was comprised of individuals who had recently arrived in Brazil. Results suggest that familiarity with a speaker’s L1 and accented-L2 has an effect on the intelligibility of what is heard. From the perspective of Complex Dynamic Systems, we argue that there is an alteration of a listener’s perception of his/her own language system due to exposure to it as an L2.
Highlights
An accent is “a particular pattern of pronunciation that is perceived to distinguish members of different speech communities” (Derwing & Munro, 2015, p. 5)
From a Complex Dynamic Systems point of view (Beckner et al, 2009; De Bot et al, 2007, 2013; De Bot, 2017; Lowie & Verspoor, 2015; Alves, 2018), speech production and perception are in constant movement, shifting their status depending on unpredictable attractor states
This paper reports the longitudinal results of intelligibility tests taken by four British nationals when presented with English sentences produced by native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese (BP)
Summary
An accent is “a particular pattern of pronunciation that is perceived to distinguish members of different speech communities” (Derwing & Munro, 2015, p. 5). Over the last two decades, though, teaching foci have shifted from nativeness to intelligibility, that is, to being understood per se (Munro & Derwing, 2015; Levis, 2018). Some of the aspects that play a role in intelligibility have already been identified, and a listener’s familiarity with a speaker’s accent is one of them (Kenworthy, 1987). From a Complex Dynamic Systems point of view (Beckner et al, 2009; De Bot et al, 2007, 2013; De Bot, 2017; Lowie & Verspoor, 2015; Alves, 2018), speech production and perception are in constant movement, shifting their status depending on unpredictable attractor states.. From a Complex Dynamic Systems point of view (Beckner et al, 2009; De Bot et al, 2007, 2013; De Bot, 2017; Lowie & Verspoor, 2015; Alves, 2018), speech production and perception are in constant movement, shifting their status depending on unpredictable attractor states. That is to say that an array of socialcognitive experiences, both linguistic and otherwise, may promote changes in a person’s production and perception over time
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