Speaker ethnicity and L2 English proficiency influence accentedness judgments by Chinese learners of English

Purpose: This study examines how speaker ethnicity (Chinese vs. White) and L2 English proficiency influence accentedness judgments by Chinese learners of English. Building on previous findings that speaker ethnicity affects accent perception in native English listeners, we tested whether similar effects occur among L2 English learners at different proficiency levels. Methodology: We employed a matched-guise paradigm in which Chinese learners of English at different proficiency levels (high vs. low) viewed either a White or Chinese face while listening to English words spoken with Mandarin-Chinese or American accents. They then rated each word’s accentedness on a 5-point scale. Data and analysis: Forty native Mandarin-Chinese speakers (with no other Chinese-dialect background) who learned English as an L2 in Chinese schools were recruited and assigned to high and low English proficiency groups (20 per group). Data for 132 target words in minimal pairs were analyzed using cumulative link mixed models. Findings: Results showed that Chinese participants with low English proficiency rated English words as less accented when paired with White faces than with Chinese faces. High-proficiency participants’ ratings were unaffected by speaker ethnicity. Originality: While previous studies primarily examined how native listeners’ perception of accentedness is shaped by speaker ethnicity using longer sentences, this study offers a novel perspective by examining nonnative listeners and using smaller linguistic units (i.e., word-level stimuli). It revealed that perceived speaker ethnicity influences accentedness judgments even for isolated words, with a notable interaction with L2 English proficiency. Significance: This study underscores the importance of adjusting L2 learners’ evaluation of English accents to foster more inclusive attitudes toward accented speech. In an increasingly globalized world where diverse English varieties coexist, promoting such inclusivity is essential for effective communication and mutual respect across linguistic and cultural boundaries.