Perception of Spanish-Accented English and its Effects on Status and Solidarity Evaluations

Poliukhovych V. Perception of Spanish-Accented English and its Effects on Status and Solidarity Evaluations : master’s thesis : 035 Philology / supervised Lidiia Verba. Kyiv, 2023. 246 p.

Nowadays, English serves as a vital tool for communication, connecting individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures all over the world. However, successful communication between native and non-native speakers may be hindered by various factors, including the distinctive accentedness of non-native speech. The present study focuses on the impact of accented speech on intercultural interactions and communication dynamics, particularly in the context of intercultural stereotypes and societal attitudes. It explores how personal experiences and political conflicts, such as those surrounding illegal migration between the United States and Mexico, can influence attitudes towards accented speech and affect cross-cultural communication on a broader scale.
This study aims to establish a correlation between the degree of accentedness in Spanish-accented English and the status and solidarity evaluations provided by native speakers. In order to do so, two studies were conducted: the Self-Evaluation Study with 4 non-native English speakers and the Perception Study with 18 native English speakers. The findings disprove hypotheses related to the lower self-perception of spoken English proficiency level by non-native speakers and increased amount of observed judgement based on accent. However, the study confirms that native English speakers do not differentiate between Spanish and Mexican accents in English, and that American native speakers demonstrate more negative attitudes due to media representations of Mexican migrants. Additionally, the study reveals a correlation between accentedness and evaluations of status and competence, with less accented speech associated with higher social status and competence levels.
Furthermore, the study highlights that female native speakers provide lower assessments of accent heaviness and higher status and solidarity evaluations compared to males. The study did not provide conclusive evidence regarding native speakers’ attitudes related to their age or the Spanish language knowledge.
While the study offers a glimpse into the perceptions of accented speech, further research larger sample size is necessary to expand the data corpus.