Speech language pathologists’ beliefs and knowledge-base for providing pronunciation instruction

Abstract

A number of studies have investigated the degree to which language instructors are prepared to offer pronunciation instruction (PI), but little research has addressed the readiness of another group of professionals, speech language pathologists (SLPs), who are increasingly offering pronunciation under the term foreign accent modification (FAM). To address this gap, the study reported here investigates the extent to which SLPs who offer PI are equipped to do so. We surveyed 54 SLPs who offer PI in North America, focusing on their beliefs, and the extent to which they are able to critically evaluate a range of statements and materials obtained from pronunciation resources. Results indicated that while survey respondents may have transferrable knowledge with respect to the articulation of speech sounds, many of their beliefs and practices are not grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the field. We recommend that SLPs offering PI should first receive specialized training in this area.

Accent modification and workplace accentism: the institutionalization of linguistic profiling and its career implications

“…A related issue pertains to pathologization. When accent modification is under the purview of speech language pathology, there is the inherent assumption that accents marginalized in relation to race and class are medical disorders requiring treatment from a qualified professional (Foote and Thomson, 2021;Yu et al, 2022). In terms of immigrant employment, then, the implication of this assumption is that immigrant jobseekers have "individual deficiencies" to remedy before they can obtain work.…”

“…Especially in countries such as the US and Canada which host large numbers of immigrant jobseekers who are told that their foreign accents prevent them from developing “communication skills” needed for work, accent modification is a service that these jobseekers can purchase for their own career advancement (Guo, 2015; Lippi-Green, 2012; Ramjattan, 2022a, b, 2023). While the accent modification industry is mostly unregulated, meaning that almost anyone can become an accent modification provider, the industry is increasingly populated by speech language pathologists (SLPs) (Foote and Thomson, 2021). Having SLPs provide accent modification seemingly lends legitimacy to this service.…”

Channeling Voices to Improve L2 English Intelligibility

“…In today's research, L2 pronunciation is studied in terms of three theoretical constructs: accentedness, intelligibility, and comprehensibility (Derwing & Munro, 1997, 2005, 2015. Accentedness, which is the goal of bottom-up pronunciation instruction, refers to the difference between the segments and suprasegmentals used by L2 learners and those used by native or highly proficient speakers of a variety of the language.…”

“…Although we see some overlap between these constructs, they are often measured differently in research. Foote (2015) explained:…”

“…Although we see some overlap between these constructs, they are often measured differently in research. Foote (2015) explained:

In research, comprehensibility is usually measured using rating scales (. .

…”