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

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