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The Relationship Between Listeners' Cultural Preferences and L2 Speech Perception

delete2026-03-01
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PRE
AI
G
Grixoni, Francesca Giusta *
M
Miao, Yongzhi
K
Kang, Okim
DOI:10.1111/ijal.70156delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
This study explored the impact of listeners' cultural preferences and knowledge on their L2 accented speech evaluations. A total of 148 undergraduate students in the US listened to 16 scripted recordings representing eight English varieties. They provided their perceptual ratings of the recordings in terms of accentedness, comprehensibility, acceptability, and linguistic stereotyping and responded to a questionnaire exploring their preference of the cultures associated with the accent varieties used (e.g., eagerness to visit, preference for food). Findings revealed that listeners' cultural preferences significantly influence their ratings across four dimensions of speech perception (p < 0.001). However, accent familiarity emerged as the strongest predictor of perceptual judgments, with higher familiarity consistently associated with more favorable ratings. These results suggest that cultural biases may not play a significant role in shaping perceptions of L2 speech, underscoring the potential for L2 speakers to be evaluated on linguistic rather than cultural grounds.
Keywords:
accent familiarity
accentedness
acceptability
comprehensibility
cultural preference
linguistic stereotyping

Journal

I
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS
IF:
1.7
Papers:
183
Citations:
0

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Texas Tech University System
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texas tech university
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Northern Arizona University
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