Negotiating Accent Diversity
Indonesian EFL Students Perceptions on Non-Native Accent
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24256/foster-jelt.v7i4.533Keywords:
Accent Insecurity, Global Englishes, Linguistic Ambivalence, Non-Native Accents, Student PerceptionsAbstract
This study explores Indonesian EFL students’ perceptions toward non-native English accents after exposure to Global Englishes materials and examines how they negotiate accent diversity with continuing native-speaker expectations. Although previous studies have examined attitudes toward English accents and have shown the potential of GE-oriented instruction to promote acceptance of accent diversity, limited attention has been given to how Indonesian EFL students who have received GE-related instruction perceive and negotiate non-native English accents. Employing a qualitative research design, data were gathered from undergraduate students in an English Language Education program at a public university in Bandung who had completed a Listening for Academic Purposes 2 course. Preliminary insights were collected through an open-ended questionnaire distributed to 22 students, followed by semi-structured interviews with six purposively selected participants to explore their viewpoints in greater depth. The data were analyzed thematically utilizing NVivo software. The study revealed that students generally recognized the legitimacy of diverse English accents and prioritized intelligibility over native-like pronunciation. However, exposure to GE did not completely eliminate preferences for native-speaker accents, which remained associated with prestige, attractiveness, and personal language-learning goals. Students therefore demonstrated an ongoing negotiation between their growing acceptance of accent diversity and their continued orientation toward native-speaker models. The findings suggest that GE exposure can support greater awareness of accent diversity, while native-speaker ideology may continue to shape students’ perceptions and preferences. This study highlights the complexity of developing more inclusive perspectives toward non-native English accents in the Indonesian EFL context.
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