Which Features of Accent affect Understanding? Exploring the Intelligibility Threshold of Diverse Accent Varieties

Abstract

With the ascendency of English as a global lingua franca, a clearer understanding of what constitutes intelligible speech is needed. However, research systematically investigating the threshold of intelligibility has been very limited. In this article, we provide a brief summary of the literature as it pertains to intelligible and comprehensible speech, and then report on an exploratory study seeking to determine what specific features of accented speech make it difficult for global listeners to process. Eighteen speakers representing six English varieties were recruited to provide speech stimuli for two English listening tests. Sixty listeners from the same six English varieties took part in the listening tests, and their scores were then assessed against measurable segmental, prosodic, and fluency features found in the speech samples. Results indicate that it is possible to identify particular features of English speech varieties that are most likely to lead to a breakdown in communication, and that the number of such features present in a particular speakers’ speech can predict intelligibility.

Intelligibility and Comprehensibility of Korean English Speakers’ Phonological Features in Lingua Franca Listening Contexts

“…Moreover, while O. Kang et al (2018) conclude that vowel and consonant divergence is a significant predictor of listening comprehension in L2-L2 English listening contexts, the study does not reveal which particular features affect comprehensibility. The present study responds to and extends this literature by focusing on intelligibility and comprehensibility of segmentals in a context of L1 Korean speakers' L2 English speech, rated by L1 Mandarin listeners who have minimal experience of Korean speakers.…”

Assessing Second Language Listening Over the Past Twenty Years: A Review Within the Socio-Cognitive Framework

“…Another line of research focused on the intelligibility of accents ( Kang et al, 2018a , b , 2020 ). Intelligibility refers to the extent to which the speakers’ intended utterance is understood by listeners, which is generally measured by transcription tasks ( Kang et al, 2018a , b ).…”

“…Another line of research focused on the intelligibility of accents ( Kang et al, 2018a , b , 2020 ). Intelligibility refers to the extent to which the speakers’ intended utterance is understood by listeners, which is generally measured by transcription tasks ( Kang et al, 2018a , b ). Kang et al (2018b) examined the relationship between the phonetic/phonological features of speakers and intelligibility, which helps test developers to select speakers with different English accents for listening input.…”

“…Intelligibility refers to the extent to which the speakers’ intended utterance is understood by listeners, which is generally measured by transcription tasks ( Kang et al, 2018a , b ). Kang et al (2018b) examined the relationship between the phonetic/phonological features of speakers and intelligibility, which helps test developers to select speakers with different English accents for listening input. More recently, Kang et al (2020) examined the relationship between test-takers’ proficiency levels and comprehension of different accents.…”

What Makes Spanish-Accented English Sound Spanish-Accented? Acoustic Measures and Listener Cues

“…Concurrently, the findings of the present study help inform theories of speech perception to help understand variables that help cue listeners' perception of accentedness as an important but understudied form of surface variability in perceived speech (e.g., Shah & McClennan, 2008). Recent interest in understanding the mechanisms and processes underlying listeners' perceptual adaptation to accented speech (e.g., Bradlow & Bent, 2008) as well as intelligibility (Kang, Thomson & Moran, 2018) can similarly benefit from a better understanding of the characteristics of accented speech that cue listeners. Similarly, another accent-related phenomenon, the Interlanguage Speech Intelligibility Benefit (e.g., Bent & Bradlow, 2003;Shah & Vavva, 2005), and other intelligibility factors (e.g., Munro, Derwing & Morton, 2006) that explore the interaction of speaker and listener language backgrounds in the intelligibility of speech, can also benefit from a better understanding of the characteristics of the accented speech as they influence perceived intelligibility.…”