Pronunciation issues in non-native contexts: A Malaysian case study

Abstract

While the spread of English has given prominence to the role of intelligibility, it has also raised questions about the intelligibility and phonology of new varieties of English. This paper asserts the importance of pronunciation, but argues that traditional pronunciation models need to be critically re-examined. Proposing a shift in focus from the native speaker to the highly competent L2 speaker of English, it reports on a study undertaken in Malaysia and discusses ways in which proficient speakers of English modify their pronunciation patterns to attain greater intelligibility. It concludes by suggesting ways in which L2 research on intelligibility can reconfigure itself both ideologically and methodologically, and examines the significance of the findings with respect to aspects of pedagogy and ‘the lingua franca phonological core’.