Evaluative attitudinal reactions to the idiomatic and non-idiomatic speech of non-native English speaking university students

Abstract

The study was designed to measure the attitudes of freshman university students toward the non-idiomatic and Idiomatic speech styles of two non-native speakers of English. The preferences determined as a result of this study provide Input to the curricular question of whether a non-idiomatic or an idiomatic speech style ought to be taught in the English as a second language (ESL) classroom. Two tape recordings were prepared each having two readings equivalent in content, but differing 1n language style. One reading on each tape was in non-idiomatic speech style; the other was in idiomatic speech style. Both recordings were made by two Algerian male university students, one having a heavier foreign accent than the other. A demographic questionnaire and a Likert-type attitudinal measurement Instrument were devised and pilot tested. They were then administered to a sample group of 168 respondents at Texas A&M University who rated the speakers via their speech on nine attitudinal scales. Eighty-six respondents heard the light accent speaker, and eighty-two heard the heavy accent speaker. ...