The Effect of Short-Term Exposure on Familiarity with Accented English for Japanese EFL Learners
Title
The Effect of Short-Term Exposure on Familiarity with Accented English for Japanese EFL Learners
The Effect of Short-Term Exposure on Familiarity with Accented English for Japanese EFL Learners
Keywords: accented English, familiarity, EFL Learners, speech perception, accentedness
Authors
Michiaki Omori
Niigata Meikun High School, Japan
Michiaki Omori
Niigata Meikun High School, Japan
Bio Data
Michiaki Omori teaches English at Niigata Meikun High School, Japan. He is currently interested in perception of accented English for nonnative learners, methods for teaching the varieties of English for Japanese EFL learners, and attitudes toward accented English
Abstract
This research investigated how nonnative speakers of English could adapt to accented English. The effect of short-term exposure on familiarity with accented English and the strength of accent were examined. The results showed four findings: 1) Adaptation to accented English could occur for nonnative speakers immediately, 2) nonnative speakers of English adapted to both knowledge of transferred L1 language background and accentedness, 3) the adaptation to accentedness was more important to process accented English than knowledge based on features of speech, and 4) the learned abstract knowledge could improve processing of accented English. Overall, these findings suggest that nonnative speakers of English can familiarize themselves with accented English and attempted to adapt to accentedness sensitively, and exposure to varieties of English can expand the flexibility of speech perception for Japanese EFL learners.
This research investigated how nonnative speakers of English could adapt to accented English. The effect of short-term exposure on familiarity with accented English and the strength of accent were examined. The results showed four findings: 1) Adaptation to accented English could occur for nonnative speakers immediately, 2) nonnative speakers of English adapted to both knowledge of transferred L1 language background and accentedness, 3) the adaptation to accentedness was more important to process accented English than knowledge based on features of speech, and 4) the learned abstract knowledge could improve processing of accented English. Overall, these findings suggest that nonnative speakers of English can familiarize themselves with accented English and attempted to adapt to accentedness sensitively, and exposure to varieties of English can expand the flexibility of speech perception for Japanese EFL learners.
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See pages 137-155
[/private]Category: Main Editions, Volume 9 Issue 3
