Japanese Attitudes towards Japanese English Speakers: The Effect of Language Varieties and Spoken Content

Abstract

The current study investigated Japanese university students’ attitudes towards Japanese English speakers. Participants were asked to evaluate speakers of different language varieties and different spoken content. The results show that Native-like English speakers were evaluated more positively than Katakana English speakers for competence and spoken content, whereas Katakana English speakers were evaluated more positively for social attractiveness. On the other hand, looking at the effect of spoken content, participants evaluated speakers more positively for social attractiveness and spoken content when speakers supported the topic (the introduction of English as a subject in Japanese elementary schools) than when they opposed it. Moreover, an interaction between language varieties and spoken content was revealed for four items, ‘trustworthy,’ ‘fluency,’ ‘intelligence,’ and ‘social status.’ These findings are considered as evidence of the need to introduce the concept of World Englishes in Japanese education.