Accent and identity : exploring the perceptions among bilingual speakers of English as a lingua franca in Hong Kong
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism
Publication Date
1-1-2014
Volume
17
Issue
5
First Page
544
Last Page
557
Keywords
accent; identity; perceptions; bilingual speakers; Hong Kong; English as a lingua franca
Abstract
This paper reports on a study that investigated the perceptions of a group of bilingual speakers of English and Chinese in Hong Kong concerning issues surrounding accent, identity and English as a lingua franca (ELF). Data were primarily collected via in-depth interviews with 28 university students in Hong Kong who are also regular users of English in lingua franca contexts. The analysis shows that the participants' perceptions of their preferred identities as speakers of English in ELF settings in relation to accent were varied and complex. Among the participants who preferred to use a local accent of English, their preference was not necessarily motivated by the need for expressing their lingua-cultural identity, but primarily by pragmatic considerations. It was also found that some participants' desire to speak English with a native-like accent was associated with their wish to present a positive identity or self-image as bilingual speakers of English. The paper calls for the need to recognize the role of individual variations in accent preferences for identity construction in ELF.
DOI
10.1080/13670050.2013.837861
Print ISSN
13670050
E-ISSN
17477522
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2013 Taylor & Francis.
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Sung, C. C. M. (2014). Accent and identity: exploring the perceptions among bilingual speakers of English as a lingua franca in Hong Kong. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 17(5), 544-557. doi: 10.1080/13670050.2013.837861