‘If we say English, that means America’: Japanese students’ perceptions of varieties of English

• Betsy E. Evans ^[1] ; Terumi Imai ^[2]
  1. [1] University of Washington

     University of Washington

     Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] Wittenberg University

     Wittenberg University

     City of Springfield, Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Language awareness, ISSN 0965-8416, Vol. 20, Nº. 4, 2011, págs. 315-326
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1080/09658416.2011.592590
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • This paper reports the results of a survey of 101 Japanese university students’ perceptions of different varieties of English using an open-ended questionnaire. Participants indicated their first impressions of varieties of English that they had named. This methodology allows participants themselves to provide the specific varieties as well as the evaluative categories and avoids problems associated with using voice stimuli while capturing the stereotypes of the countries they name, a method of research well-established in perceptual dialectology. There were consistent patterns of evaluation of Englishes not found in similar research such as characterisations of US English as authentic, the default variety, a familiar or easy variety. Typically, when evaluating varieties of English, respondents attribute higher status to UK English than US English. Capturing the attitudes of non-native speakers to varieties of English provides understanding of the influences on the shape of English as a global language as attitudes are known to be a powerful influence on the usage and perceptions of language varieties.