Stigma, self-styling and ‘forced accents’ among English L2 speakers in Spain

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between shame, stigma and accent for non-native English speakers in Spain. The low English competence of the Spanish population frequently constitutes a source of individual and collective stigma – which includes the apparent undesirability of Spanish-sounding English. Drawing on semi-structured interviews conducted in Barcelona, this paper explores participant perceptions around L2 English and accent. The results show how keenly aware they are of the stigma surrounding Spanish-sounding English. Also revealed is how some people may engage in stylisation of (American) English in order to reap the benefits of sounding like highly proficient speakers, and to distance themselves from a locally stigmatised English-speaking persona. These attempts can however backfire, as speakers may potentially be perceived as inauthentically ‘forcing’ an accent. The paper argues for the need to pay close attention to the evolving indexicalities of English and the contrasting social personas in specific localities.