Intelligibility studies: A consideration of empirical and ideological issues

This paper critically examines key issues underpinning past research on the intelligibility of L2 speech. While acknowledging the substantial contribution made by intelligibility studies to our understanding of L2 speech and how it is received and perceived, a close reading of the research in this a...

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Published in:World Englishes
Main Author: Rajadurai J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2007
Online Access:https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33847299466&doi=10.1111%2fj.1467-971X.2007.00490.x&partnerID=40&md5=0cc94625f9da8d7b797182d68ccff190
id 2-s2.0-33847299466
spelling 2-s2.0-33847299466
Rajadurai J.
Intelligibility studies: A consideration of empirical and ideological issues
2007
World Englishes
26
1
10.1111/j.1467-971X.2007.00490.x
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33847299466&doi=10.1111%2fj.1467-971X.2007.00490.x&partnerID=40&md5=0cc94625f9da8d7b797182d68ccff190
This paper critically examines key issues underpinning past research on the intelligibility of L2 speech. While acknowledging the substantial contribution made by intelligibility studies to our understanding of L2 speech and how it is received and perceived, a close reading of the research in this area gives rise to grave misgivings. In particular, there has been a tendency to treat intelligibility with no serious consideration of the context of interaction and the real participants involved. Furthermore, this field of investigation appears to be largely grounded in unequal native/non-native hierarchies, manifested in misconceptions and myths about native and non-native speakers and their speech. With an emphasis on issues of pronunciation, and a focus on the varieties and speakers of the Outer Circle, this paper questions and challenges some of the dominant trends in this field, and concludes by suggesting new ways of defining and investigating intelligibility. ©2007 The Author. Journal compilation © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

1467971X
English
Article

author Rajadurai J.
spellingShingle Rajadurai J.
Intelligibility studies: A consideration of empirical and ideological issues
author_facet Rajadurai J.
author_sort Rajadurai J.
title Intelligibility studies: A consideration of empirical and ideological issues
title_short Intelligibility studies: A consideration of empirical and ideological issues
title_full Intelligibility studies: A consideration of empirical and ideological issues
title_fullStr Intelligibility studies: A consideration of empirical and ideological issues
title_full_unstemmed Intelligibility studies: A consideration of empirical and ideological issues
title_sort Intelligibility studies: A consideration of empirical and ideological issues
publishDate 2007
container_title World Englishes
container_volume 26
container_issue 1
doi_str_mv 10.1111/j.1467-971X.2007.00490.x
url https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33847299466&doi=10.1111%2fj.1467-971X.2007.00490.x&partnerID=40&md5=0cc94625f9da8d7b797182d68ccff190
description This paper critically examines key issues underpinning past research on the intelligibility of L2 speech. While acknowledging the substantial contribution made by intelligibility studies to our understanding of L2 speech and how it is received and perceived, a close reading of the research in this area gives rise to grave misgivings. In particular, there has been a tendency to treat intelligibility with no serious consideration of the context of interaction and the real participants involved. Furthermore, this field of investigation appears to be largely grounded in unequal native/non-native hierarchies, manifested in misconceptions and myths about native and non-native speakers and their speech. With an emphasis on issues of pronunciation, and a focus on the varieties and speakers of the Outer Circle, this paper questions and challenges some of the dominant trends in this field, and concludes by suggesting new ways of defining and investigating intelligibility. ©2007 The Author. Journal compilation © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
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language English
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