The effect of phonological variation on adult learner comprehension

1 January 1981

journal article
research article
Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Studies in Second Language Acquisition

Vol. 4 (1) , 75-80
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0272263100004307

Abstract

This research report focuses on the relationship of English phonological variation to intelligibility for adult second language learners of English. Fifty-eight adult ESL learners (29 advanced beginners and 29 high intermediates) were tested' on their ability to understand working-class (New Yorkese), educated (Standard English) and foreign-accented speakers of English. Subjects were also asked to rank these speakers according to expected ease of comprehension. Findings from this study indicate Standard English to be more intelligible than either New Yorkese or foreign accented English for these learners.

Keywords

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:

English for Cross-Cultural Communication: The Question of Intelligibility
TESOL Quarterly, 1979
Investigating Linguistic Acceptability with Egyptian EFL Students
TESOL Quarterly, 1979