I Meant to Say That: How Adult Language Learners Construct Positive Identities Through Nonstandard Language Use

Szabo, Michelle

doi:10.18806/tesl.v24i1.26

“…However, in addition to the feedback that the speaker may receive from others, accent strength may also serve as an important means of expressing one's identity (Szabo, 2006). For example, speakers may modulate their accents to express their affiliation with a specific group (Gallois et al, 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Psychological Orientations and Accent Strength

Gluszek

¹

,

Newheiser

²

,

Dovidio

³

2010

Journal of Language and Social Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Past research has focused on demographic and skill-acquisition variables, such as age of arrival and length of residence in the host country, to predict accent strength in a nonnative language. The present research investigated the relationships between accent strength and social psychological orientations of nonnative English speakers in the United States. Employing causal modeling techniques, this research extended previous work by examining nonnative speakers' identification with the United States along with age and length of residence as predictors of both other-and self-perceived accent strengths. The research further investigated how accent strength may predict speakers' perceptions of communication challenges and lack of social belonging. The results supported the proposed over alternative models. The importance of taking into account sociopsychological factors as both predictors and consequences of accent strength is considered, along with implications for research on the stigma of nonnative accents.

show abstract

“…Through narrating significant events, individuals construct their identities (Barkhuizen, 2013;Bell, 2002;Clandinin & Connelly, 2000;Riessman, 2008). Narratives of language learning show how language learners gain access to language learning and their imagined identities, and how they negotiate these identities to construct desirable identities (Early & Norton, 2012;Kinginger, 2003;Norton & Early, 2011;Ro, 2010;Szabo, 2006). For instance, in the study of two Korean English language learners at a high school in the U.S., Ro (2010) identifies the complexities that exist in their identity negotiation processes in school communities.…”

Section: Methods Narrative Inquirymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pavlenko (2002), examining narrative, claims that "there is no doubt that recent developments that legitimize personal narratives are extremely important for the TESOL field, as they allow for both teachers' and learners' voices to be heard on a par with those of the researchers" (p. 213). ELL narratives have been examined in related issues of identity (Darvin & Norton, 2014;Early & Norton, 2012;Szabo, 2006). Early and Norton (2012), for example, examined the construction of self and identity across contexts through the narratives of language learners.…”

Section: Methods Narrative Inquirymentioning

confidence: 99%

Untitled

2017

The Journal of AsiaTEFL

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Through narrating significant events, individuals construct their identities (Barkhuizen, 2013;Bell, 2002;Clandinin & Connelly, 2000;Riessman, 2008). Narratives of language learning show how language learners gain access to language learning and their imagined identities, and how they negotiate these identities to construct desirable identities (Early & Norton, 2012;Kinginger, 2003;Norton & Early, 2011;Ro, 2010;Szabo, 2006). For instance, in the study of two Korean English language learners at a high school in the U.S., Ro (2010) identifies the complexities that exist in their identity negotiation processes in school communities.…”

Section: Narrative Inquirymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pavlenko (2002), examining narrative, claims that "there is no doubt that recent developments that legitimize personal narratives are extremely important for the TESOL field, as they allow for both teachers' and learners' voices to be heard on a par with those of the researchers" (p. 213). ELL narratives have been examined in related issues of identity (Darvin & Norton, 2014;Early & Norton, 2012;Szabo, 2006). Early and Norton (2012), for example, examined the construction of self and identity across contexts through the narratives of language learners.…”

Section: Narrative Inquirymentioning

confidence: 99%

Negotiating Identity : An Asian Migrant Language Learner Imagining the Future

Lee¹,

Hunter²,

Franken³

2017

The Journal of AsiaTEFL

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Asian migrants 1 that settle in countries like NZ learn English in the hope of accessing mainstream society. However, this process presents many challenges to their identities and their sense of self worth. This paper explores one migrant's journey. The case study of "Jessica" used a narrative approach to investigate her identity construction in trying to get entry to a degree programme. The study focuses on significant events collected from eight in-depth interviews over a period of eleven months. In the process of being originally denied entry to university, then later accepted, Jessica negotiated the negative and limited identity imposed on her, reconstructing her identity as a university student and successful language learner with increased self-value. The findings indicate the significance of imposed identities on self-value, the importance of identity negotiation and the close link to a sense of belonging in mainstream society. Journeys such as Jessica's hopefully make policy makers and language education providers aware of the importance of the sense of self when supporting migrants who are language learners.

show abstract

I Meant to Say That: How Adult Language Learners Construct Positive Identities Through Nonstandard Language Use

Cited by 7 publications

References 38 publications

Social Psychological Orientations and Accent Strength

Social Psychological Orientations and Accent Strength

Untitled

Negotiating Identity : An Asian Migrant Language Learner Imagining the Future

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About