This study aims to determine the perceived mutual intelligibility of Regional Indian English (RIE) accents from the Standard Indian English (SIE) speakers’ perspective; find out if there is attitudinal bias among young SIE speakers towards RIE speakers based on the English Medium/Vernacular Medium (EM/VM) divide; and if the bias has any effect on the perceived intelligibility of RIE accents. This study aims to look into the phenomenon of bias as well. However, as bias is an implicit characteristic that is generally kept veiled from public scrutiny, it could not be incorporated in the questionnaire for analysis. As a result, it was not included overtly as a research question either. Primarily, also because determining the ‘acceptability’ of an accent (a main research question) implies looking for instances of stereotyping. And stereotyping creates the very conditions for bias to grow and fester. Hence, as bias is a result of a process, this study will attempt to statistically shed light on this subject through data interpretation.
Accents tell “the story of who you are” in terms of being the most revealing predicators of a speaker’s geographical origins and social background, including perceived educational levels, professional status, social class and identity. These “social and acoustic” aspects of an accent often give rise to stereotypes and value judgements of the speakers and/or groups, especially if it differs in noticeable ways from established pronunciation patterns. This leads to negative reactions or language attitudes that are reflected in systemic discrimination in areas of education and employment. It can be argued that to eschew this discriminatory practice of stereotyping non-native or foreign accents, the intelligibility construct emerged as early as 1900 (Henry Sweet) as an alternative, egalitarian L2 pronunciation target option for L2 learners. Hence, intelligibility of L2 speech pattern found itself to be one of the main concerns of accents.
In the study of accents, the object of study is not so much the speaker’s speech style but the listener’s hearing and understanding. Munro makes a further salient point by noting that the effect of accents on communication can be best judged by an “unsophisticated listener” to see how understandable L2 speakers are within their community. This kind of judgement data of listeners’ perceptions are considered to be “gold standard”.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Chapter 1 - Overview
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.2 Background and context
- 1.2.1 Indian English and World Englishes (WES)
- 1.2.2 The multi-lingual context
- 1.2.3 The educational context
- 1.2.4 Standard IE (SIE) and Regional IE (RIE)
- 1.3 Rationale of the study
- 1.3.1 On mutual intelligibility
- 1.3.2 On mutual perceived acceptability
- 1.4 Aim of the study
- 1.4.1 The research questions
- Chapter 2 - Literature Review
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 Intelligibility
- 2.2.1 Understanding' and 'intelligibility' in World Englishes
- 2.2.2 Theoretical frameworks and approaches - WEs approach
- 2.2.3 Research on intelligibility
- 2.2.3.1 Testing intelligibility measures - an empirical study
- 2.2.3.2 Mixed studies on Intelligibility and attitudes
- 2.2.5 Conclusion
- 2.3 Language attitudes and the 'status' and 'solidarity' dimensions - theoretical framework
- 2.3.1 Introduction
- 2.3.2 Definitions and constructs
- 2.3.3 Accent recognition and stereotyping
- 2.3.4 Methods and techniques
- 2.3.5 Research studies that used status and solidarity - World Englishes paradigm
- 2.3.6 Language attitude studies on IE
- Chapter 3 - Methodology
- 3.1 Introduction
- 3.2 The rationale for selecting the scalar rating method
- 3.1 The selection process of participants
- 3.1.1 The rationale for the selection of speaker group
- 3.1.2 The rationale for the selection of respondent group
- 3.3 Data collection process
- 3.3.1 The online questionnaire / survey
- 3.3.2 The Verbal-Guise Technique (VGT) and the speech sample used
- 3.3.3 The scales used
- 3.4 Ethics
- 3.4 Data analysis
- 3.4.1 Statistical methods
- 3.4.2 On Likert scales, T-tests and ANOVAs
- Chapter 4 - Results
- Chapter 5 - Discussion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This dissertation aims to quantitatively analyze the mutual intelligibility and acceptability of regional Indian English (RIE) varieties. It investigates how speakers from different regions of India perceive and understand each other's speech, considering factors like accent recognition, intelligibility ratings, and language attitudes.
- Mutual intelligibility of different RIE varieties
- Perceived acceptability of different RIE varieties
- Influence of regional background on perception of RIE
- Relationship between education (English Medium vs. Vernacular Medium) and RIE perception
- Language attitudes towards different RIE varieties
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter 1 - Overview: This chapter introduces the study, providing background information on Indian English within the broader context of World Englishes. It establishes the rationale for investigating mutual intelligibility and perceived acceptability of regional variations, highlighting the multilingual and educational contexts in India. The chapter clearly defines the study's aim and research questions, setting the stage for the subsequent chapters.
Chapter 2 - Literature Review: This chapter reviews existing literature on intelligibility and language attitudes, focusing specifically on the World Englishes perspective and research on Indian English. It explores theoretical frameworks for understanding intelligibility, examining various empirical studies and methodologies used to measure it. The chapter also delves into the theoretical underpinnings of language attitudes, particularly the dimensions of 'status' and 'solidarity,' and reviews relevant research on language attitudes towards Indian English.
Chapter 3 - Methodology: This chapter details the research methodology employed in the study, justifying the choice of a scalar rating method and explaining the participant selection process. It describes the data collection process, including the online questionnaire, the Verbal-Guise Technique (VGT) used for speech samples, and the rating scales implemented. The chapter also addresses ethical considerations and outlines the data analysis methods, including statistical techniques like t-tests and ANOVAs.
Chapter 4 - Results: This chapter presents the quantitative findings of the study. The results section likely details the findings related to accent recognition, intelligibility ratings, language attitudes (status and solidarity), and the impact of English Medium versus Vernacular Medium education on these factors. The chapter utilizes statistical analyses to interpret the data, offering insights into the relationships between the variables investigated.
Chapter 5 - Discussion: This chapter interprets the findings presented in Chapter 4, exploring the implications of the study's results. It likely discusses patterns and trends observed in accent recognition, intelligibility judgments, and language attitudes, relating the findings to the existing literature and exploring any potential biases or preferences revealed in the data. The discussion section likely connects the findings to the study's objectives and research questions.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Indian English, World Englishes, mutual intelligibility, perceived acceptability, language attitudes, accent recognition, regional variation, English Medium education, Vernacular Medium education, quantitative analysis, status, solidarity, Verbal-Guise Technique.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Regional Indian English
What is the main focus of this research?
This dissertation quantitatively analyzes the mutual intelligibility and acceptability of regional Indian English (RIE) varieties. It investigates how speakers from different regions of India perceive and understand each other's speech, considering factors like accent recognition, intelligibility ratings, and language attitudes.
What are the key themes explored in this study?
The study explores mutual intelligibility of different RIE varieties, perceived acceptability of different RIE varieties, the influence of regional background on perception of RIE, the relationship between education (English Medium vs. Vernacular Medium) and RIE perception, and language attitudes towards different RIE varieties.
What is covered in Chapter 1 (Overview)?
Chapter 1 introduces the study, providing background information on Indian English within the context of World Englishes. It establishes the rationale for investigating mutual intelligibility and perceived acceptability of regional variations, highlighting the multilingual and educational contexts in India. The chapter defines the study's aim and research questions.
What is discussed in Chapter 2 (Literature Review)?
Chapter 2 reviews existing literature on intelligibility and language attitudes, focusing on the World Englishes perspective and research on Indian English. It explores theoretical frameworks for understanding intelligibility and examines empirical studies and methodologies used to measure it. The chapter also delves into the theoretical underpinnings of language attitudes (status and solidarity) and reviews relevant research on language attitudes towards Indian English.
What methodology is used in Chapter 3 (Methodology)?
Chapter 3 details the research methodology, justifying the use of a scalar rating method and explaining the participant selection process. It describes the data collection process, including the online questionnaire, the Verbal-Guise Technique (VGT) for speech samples, and the rating scales. The chapter addresses ethical considerations and outlines data analysis methods (t-tests and ANOVAs).
What are the key findings presented in Chapter 4 (Results)?
Chapter 4 presents the quantitative findings of the study. The results section details findings related to accent recognition, intelligibility ratings, language attitudes (status and solidarity), and the impact of English Medium versus Vernacular Medium education on these factors. Statistical analyses are used to interpret the data.
How are the findings interpreted in Chapter 5 (Discussion)?
Chapter 5 interprets the findings from Chapter 4, exploring their implications. It discusses patterns and trends observed in accent recognition, intelligibility judgments, and language attitudes, relating the findings to the existing literature and exploring potential biases or preferences. The discussion connects the findings to the study's objectives and research questions.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include: Indian English, World Englishes, mutual intelligibility, perceived acceptability, language attitudes, accent recognition, regional variation, English Medium education, Vernacular Medium education, quantitative analysis, status, solidarity, and Verbal-Guise Technique.
What is the overall aim of this study?
The overall aim is to quantitatively analyze the mutual intelligibility and acceptability of regional Indian English (RIE) varieties, considering factors such as accent, regional background, and education.
- Quote paper
- Suchie Dutta (Author), 2021, Mutual Intelligibility and Acceptability of Regional Indian English (RIE). Accents, Attitudes and Intelligibility of RIE, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1288689
