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Identity Markers and L2 Pronunciation1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2008

Jane Zuengler
Jane Zuengler
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin, Madison
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Extract

This is a report of a study of social marking in second language pronunciation. In particular, it tested out Trudgill's (1981) suggestion that sounds that are most likely to undergo sociolinguistic variation, that is, that may become social markers, are those that Labov (1972a, 1972b), calls stereotypes. This study sought to determine whether there were certain aspects of English pronunciation that native Spanish speakers would, at some level of awareness, associate with American English/American identity. The speakers were asked to perform several tasks, including a mimic of an American speaking Spanish with an American accent (following Flege & Hammond, 1982). Among the results, speakers displayed a tacit awareness of English-Spanish sound distinctions (in particular, allophonic differences) in performing the mimic (supporting Flege & Hammond, 1982). Additionally, some of the alterations they were very conscious of held as stereotypes of American English. Support was found for Trudgill's (1981) suggestion.

Type
Articles
Information
Studies in Second Language Acquisition , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , February 1988 , pp. 33 - 49
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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