ERIC Number: EJ1410518
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0313-7155
EISSN: EISSN-1837-6290
Exploring Thai University Students' Attitudes towards the Accents of Other Englishes Users
Issues in Educational Research, v33 n4 p1271-1285 2023
English users naturally exhibit a diverse range of accents when they interact in real-world situations where English serves as a common language for communication among people from various cultural backgrounds. This research, therefore, delves into the attitudes of Thai English major undergraduate students across three programs regarding the accents of English speakers from countries in the "Inner Circle," "Outer Circle," and "Expanding Circle." Using interview data from ten students at a north-eastern Thai university, the study employed a qualitative content analysis method for data interpretation. The results showed that, due to the students' exposure and interactions with individuals from various linguistic and cultural backgrounds, including foreign students and teachers, most of them displayed a favourable attitude towards English accent diversity. They appreciated the unique identity and charm that different accents convey to their speakers. However, a few students still considered Inner Circle accent as the ideal model of English. This suggests that Thai learners have started to recognise accent variations, acknowledging that English is not exclusively owned by a particular nation. Thus, the practice of devaluing English accents from Outer and Expanding Circle countries for not closely resembling Inner Circle accents and judging them as substandard is considered inappropriate.
Descriptors: English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Student Attitudes, Language Attitudes, Language Variation, Foreign Countries, Undergraduate Students, Self Concept, Pronunciation, Cultural Background, Cultural Pluralism, Standard Spoken Usage, Native Speakers
Western Australian Institute for Educational Research Inc. 5/202 Coode Street, Como, Western Australia 6152, Australia. e-mail: editor@iier.org.au; Web site: http://www.iier.org.au/iier.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Thailand
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A