Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching
October 7-8, 2011
Call for Papers
The Confluence of Social Factors and Pronunciation:
Accent, Identity, Irritation and Discrimination
Invited Speaker
Donald Rubin, University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia USA
Second language pronunciation acquisition is widely considered to be difficult from a physical, cognitive and developmental point of view, but just as significant are the role of social factors. Native and nonnative accents, even when they are intelligible, are not neutral, but are subject to social pecking orders which cause listeners to evaluate speakers in various ways. These evaluations may lead to discriminatory or preferential treatment, and they may even affect speakers´ ability to be audible, to construct their identities, and to successfully acquire a new language (Miller 2006).
This conference will provide a forum for discussions of how social factors influence and are influenced by pronunciation. Possible paper topics may include descriptive and experimental studies, discussions of instructional approaches that emphasize social factors, and case studies of the interaction of social and linguistic factors in the development of oral skills.
In addition to papers related to how social factors impact the learning of pronunciation, how accent affects social acceptance and the results of acceptance (or lack thereof), how irritation is related to intelligibility, and how interlocutors’ reactions can be improved, this third annual conference invites proposals for papers or poster presentations on any aspect of pronunciation research, teaching and learning. Papers will be given in English, but papers addressing the teaching and learning of pronunciation for any language are encouraged.
Presenters will be invited to submit their papers for a peer-reviewed, on-line proceedings of the conference.