Pre-Service Teacher Attitudes Toward Differing Dialects

Attitudes of native and nonnative speakers of English toward various regional and social U.S. English accents

“…First, native speakers and nonnative speakers who had been in the U.S. for 2 years or more did rate the Midwestern accent significantly higher on all traits. The findings are similar for native speakers to Alford and Strother (1990), Cross, DeVaney, and Jones (2001), Hewett (1971), and Tucker and Lambert (1969). However one difference between these studies and the present one is that in those studies, speakers with nonstandard accents were sometimes foimd to be more honest, fiiendly, trustworthy, and to possess more determination than standard-accented speakers, hi the present study, however, nonstandard-accented speakers were rated lowest on all traits.…”

“…It is hoped that the present study will shed some light on the stereotypes that both native and nonnative speakers hold toward various U.S. English accents, and in particular nonstandard-accented English, as well as on the potential^convergence' in attitudes between nonnative and native speaker raters. Much of the research on language-based stereotypes has concerned speakers of dialects and accents other than Standard American English (SAE) and has documented the stigma attached to speakers ofnonstandard dialects accents (Cross, DeVaney, & Jones 2001).…”

“…Since the 1960s it has been shown that listeners form dialect-based judgments of speakers regarding intellectual ability and personal characteristics (Cross, DeVaney & Jones, 2001). Language attitude studies have been one of the predominant ways of indirectly measuring the views that members of one socid group hold of members of another contrasting group.…”

Correct or Incorrect Language: A Case of Iranian EFL Teachers

“…As far as dialects are viewed as social and personal qualities of different students, it seems necessary to investigate the teachers" attitudes toward different dialects in the classroom. Since the 60"s, linguists have generally accepted that listeners form dialect-based judgments of speakers" intellectual ability and personal characteristics (Cross et al, 2001). A lot of research is necessary to explore whether teachers who are dealt with different dialects in the classroom are sensitive to students with non-standard dialects.…”

Exploring Children's Perceptions of African American English

“…Teachers often have an inability to get past the child's oral language, and consequently, make false assumptions about the child's true capabilities. Studies have shown that teachers are more likely to view these children as less confident, less intelligent, and less likely to be successful than speakers of Mainstream English (Cecil, 1988;Cross, DeVaney, & Jones, 2001;Franklin & Hixon, 1999;Schwartz, 1982).…”