Socialized Perception and L2 Pronunciation among Spanish-Speaking Learners of English in Puerto Rico

摘要

The purpose of this study is to validate the following hypothesis: First, spoken accents have a major influence and can affect listeners' personal attitudes and second, native Puerto Rican speakers will speak English as a second language without wanting to sound like a North American English speaker. This study will contribute to research on the importance of language attitudes in showing that socialized perception strongly influences both the listeners and speakers.;The research presented here examines attitudes towards Puerto Ricans speaking English with varying degrees of Spanish accents among students at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo (UPRA). Ten university students participated in the recorded oral reading portion of this investigation. After examining specific features based on linguistic analysis, six of the voices with similar characteristics were chosen as the representative Puerto Rican speakers of English. Questionnaires were administered to over 100 students in advanced English classes who listened to recordings of the six readers.;The results were analyzed and divided into specific areas of interest, such as high school, gender, etc. The detailed analysis revealed differences among male and female responses when asked the same questions, while the primary hypothesis was supported when referring to socialized perception and the consequences of having a spoken accent. An unexpected and extremely unanticipated result was discovered upon analyzing the statistical data and encountering evidence which would debate or refute one of the basic premises regarding the Accommodation Theory, as well as assertions contrary to my own predictions. The final portion of the results uncovered personal comments and assumptions made towards both the Puerto Rican and North American accented voices.