Towards an Integrated Understanding of English Accents, Attitudes and Ideologies in a Postcolonial Context: A Case Study in Hong Kong

• Other Authors: Ho, Sin Yu Bonnie (author.)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; Chinese
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/en/item/cuhk-1292296

本研究參照施奈德（Schneider，2007）後殖民時期多種英語動態模式的理論框架，旨在探討香港英語出現階段轉變的兩大特徵，也就是與香港英語口音有關的社會語言環境因素（即規範導向和態度）和語言效果（即結構上轉變）。本研究尤其深入探究以下三者之間的相互影響：i)語音發音、ii)受訪者對港外英式、美式標準語和港內港式英語的態度，以及iii)語言意識形態，嘗試綜合理解後殖民時期，香港的各種英語口音、人們對英語口音的態度和有關意識形態。 === 本研究分為兩大部分，並以量化和質化方法蒐集所得的數據資料作佐證。第一部分為語音發音研究，邀請十四名在港廣東話人士，錄取他們閱讀一篇英文篇章的聲音，並從抽取的語音樣本中，加以分析其音段及超音段的語音特徵。分析結果顯示，語音樣本之間存在著相當大的差異，不同樣本分別帶有強烈的英式、美式和港式英語口音，揭示了語言的多元化或語言特徵庫（feature pool） 的多樣性（Mufwene，2001；Schneider，2007）。 === 本研究第二部分邀請了四十五名在港廣東話人士，為語音發音研究中抽取的語音樣本評分，填寫問卷調查表達對口音的看法，並書面回答開放式問題。結果顯示受訪者對港外標準英語和本地香港廣東話人士操同樣標準英語的態度不同，意味著口音和操某口音人士之間的分離。本研究透過理解受訪者對於筆者暫稱為「常識口音」（common-sense accents）的認識，發現到口音與其他社會因素有決定性關係。這些社會因素，加上研究中觀察到其他的散漫 影響因素 （discursive forces），塑造了香港語言社區中的意識形態和人們對英語口音的態度。 === Drawing upon the theoretical framework of Schneider’s (2007) Dynamic Model of Postcolonial Englishes, the current study examines two parameters of phase transitions, namely sociolinguistic conditions (i.e. the norm orientation and attitudes) and linguistic consequences (i.e. structural changes), with respect to English accents in Hong Kong. In particular, this study looks into the interplay among i) speech production, ii) attitudes towards exonormative and endonormative English accents, and iii) language ideologies, attempting to provide an integrated understanding of English accents, attitudes and ideologies in a postcolonial context. === This study is comprised of two parts, involving both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. In the first part, a speech production task, 14 local Hong Kong Cantonese speakers of English audio-recorded a reading passage. The segmental and suprasegmental phonological features of the speech samples collected were analyzed. Results show that there is a huge variation among the speech samples with some demonstrating more British, American and Hong Kong features of English accents respectively. The findings signify the linguistic pluralism or diversity in the linguistic “feature pool” (Mufwene, 2001; Schneider, 2007). === In the second part of the study, 45 listeners, who were also local Hong Kong Cantonese speakers of English, were invited to rate the selected speech samples and fill out the attitudes survey. They also completed a written task with open-ended questions. Results indicate that attitudes towards exonormative English accents are different from those towards local Hong Kong Cantonese speakers of English with such features, implying an ideological disjunction of accents and speakers. Through looking into listeners’ understanding of accents, which I tentatively call common- sense accents, the deterministic links between accents and other social factors can be found. Along with other discursive forces observed in this study, they shape the ideologies and attitudes towards English accents in the postcolonial linguistic community of Hong Kong. === Ho, Sin Yu Bonnie. === Thesis M.Phil. Chinese University of Hong Kong 2016. === Includes bibliographical references (leaves ). === Abstracts also in Chinese. === Title from PDF title page (viewed on …). === Detailed summary in vernacular field only. === Detailed summary in vernacular field only. === Detailed summary in vernacular field only.