The Relationship among Accent Familiarity, Shared L1, and Comprehensibility: A Path Analysis Perspective

Autor/in	Miao, Yongzhi
Titel	The Relationship among Accent Familiarity, Shared L1, and Comprehensibility: A Path Analysis Perspective
Quelle	In: Language Testing, 40 (2023) 3, S.723-747 (25 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Miao, Yongzhi)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0265-5322
DOI	10.1177/02655322231156105
Schlagwörter	Pronunciation; Metalinguistics; Native Language; Intelligibility; Second Language Learning; English (Second Language); Listening Comprehension; Culture Fair Tests; Speech Communication; Language Variation; Language Usage; High Stakes Tests; Correlation; Language Attitudes; Familiarity; Prediction; Language Tests; Listening Comprehension Tests; Masters Programs; Graduate Students; Applied Linguistics; Foreign Countries; Language Proficiency; Mandarin Chinese; Rating Scales; Guidelines; Audio Equipment; Phonology; Error Analysis (Language); Grammar; Likert Scales; United Kingdom; United Kingdom (England); Europe; Test of English for International Communication; Test of English as a Foreign Language; International English Language Testing System + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Aussprache; Metalanguage; Metasprache; Zweitsprachenerwerb; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Hörverständnis; Sprachenvielfalt; Sprachgebrauch; Korrelation; Sprachverhalten; Vorhersage; Language test; Sprachtest; Hörverstehensübung; Magister course; Magisterstudiengang; Graduate Study; Student; Students; Aufbaustudium; Graduiertenstudium; Hauptstudium; Studentin; Linguistics; Linguistik; Angewandte Linguistik; Ausland; Language skill; Language skills; Sprachkompetenz; Rating-Skala; Richtlinien; Audio-CD; Fonologie; Error analysis; Language; Fehleranalyse; Grammatik; Likert-Skala; Großbritannien; Europa; Language tests; Englisch
Abstract	Scholars have argued for the inclusion of different spoken varieties of English in high-stakes listening tests to better represent the global use of English. However, doing so may introduce additional construct-irrelevant variance due to accent familiarity and the shared first language (L1) advantage, which could threaten test fairness. However, it is unclear to what extent accent familiarity and a shared L1 are related to or conflated with each other. The present study investigates the relationship between accent familiarity, a shared L1, and comprehensibility. Results from descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U test based on 302 second language (L2) English listeners' responses to an online questionnaire suggested that a shared L1 meant high accent familiarity, but not vice versa. A path analysis revealed a complex relationship between accent familiarity, a shared L1, and comprehensibility. While a shared L1 had a direct effect on accent familiarity, and accent familiarity had a direct effect on comprehensibility, a shared L1 did not predict comprehensibility when accent familiarity was controlled for. These results disentangle accent familiarity from a shared L1. Researchers should consider both constructs when investigating fairness in relation to World Englishes for listening assessment. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01