Why do non-native speakers have a foreign accent? A three-dimensional perspective

Abstract

A three-dimensional perspective, following the speech-chain model, is taken in arriving at the variables that influence the production and perception of foreign-accented speech. Essentially, research to date indicates the interactive role of all three communication components of the speech-chain model. First, speech-related variables, i.e., the interlanguage differences in the phonetic patterns of the speech, of L2 speakers compared to the L1 speech patterns influence listeners perception of accentedness of non-native speech. Second, speaker-related variables (i.e., differences in age, other psychological variables) cause the non-native speakers to have difficulties in learning to map new sounds of the L2 onto their existing L1 phonetic system, thus resulting in foreign-accented speech patterns. Lastly, differences in listener-related factors (i.e., L1 of the listener, prior linguistic experience, amount of exposure, listening-conditions in which they hear the accented speech) have been found to influence the perception of foreign-accentedness of speech. Past and current findings will be brought to bear upon this issue that has implications in theoretical understanding of speech perception, as well as practical applications in accent-modification and ESL classroom training programs.