Investigating the Impact of Segmental and Syllable Structure Errors on Speaker Competence in Asian English Varieties

－A Study on the Perception amongst Japanese University Students－

Abstract

The study investigates Japanese university students' stereotypes about English varieties in Asia. It examines correlations between objective accentedness (OA), perceived accentedness (PA), and speaker competence. Findings reveal a very weak correlation between OA and both PA and speaker competence, whereas PA significantly correlates with speaker competence. The study suggests listeners' judgments are influenced by various linguistic features beyond segmental and syllable structure errors. It calls for future research to consider a wider range of phonological features and involve more raters to gain a better understanding of linguistic stereotypes.