Comparing Foreign Accent in L1 Attrition and L2 Acquisition: Range and Rater Effects

Autor/inn/en	Schmid, Monika S.; Hopp, Holger
Titel	Comparing Foreign Accent in L1 Attrition and L2 Acquisition: Range and Rater Effects
Quelle	In: Language Testing, 31 (2014) 3, S.367-388 (22 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0265-5322
DOI	10.1177/0265532214526175
Schlagwörter	Comparative Analysis; Second Language Learning; Pronunciation; Native Speakers; Familiarity; German; Evaluators; Speech; Language Tests; Testing; Language Skill Attrition; Bilingualism; Indo European Languages; Scores; Statistical Analysis; English; English (Second Language); Phonetics; Language Research + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Zweitsprachenerwerb; Aussprache; Muttersprachler; Deutscher; Speaking; Sprechen; Language test; Sprachtest; Testdurchführung; Testen; Sprachverfall; Bilingualismus; Indoeuropäisch; Statistische Analyse; English language; Englisch; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Phonetik; Fonetik; Sprachforschung
Abstract	This study examines the methodology of global foreign accent ratings in studies on L2 speech production. In three experiments, we test how variation in raters, range within speech samples, as well as instructions and procedures affects ratings of accent in predominantly monolingual speakers of German, non-native speakers of German, as well as long-term emigrants from Germany, that is, L1 attriters. The findings show that rater differences do not result in systematic changes in rating patterns. In contrast, range effects and effects of familiarity with accented speech lead to shifts in absolute and relative ratings. Including more strongly foreign-accented samples leads to lower judgements for the entire group of L2 speakers compared to natives. Similarly, lower familiarity with foreign accent results in more variable and more strongly foreign-accented judgements. We discuss the implications for research on L2 pronunciation as well as for the interpretation of nativeness in L2 studies and language testing more generally. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10