Like that Lah: Malaysian undergraduates’ attitudes towards localised English
Native-like English use is often considered the standard to be achieved, in contrast to nonnative English use. Nonetheless, localised English varieties abound in many societies and the growth or decline of any language variety commonly depends on how it is perceived; for instance, as a mere tool...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2018
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/13772/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/13772/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/13772/1/19865-76269-1-PB.pdf |
| Summary: | Native-like English use is often considered the standard to be achieved, in contrast to nonnative
English use. Nonetheless, localised English varieties abound in many societies and the
growth or decline of any language variety commonly depends on how it is perceived; for
instance, as a mere tool for functionality or as a prized cultural badge, and only its users can
offer us insights into this. The thrust of the present study falls in line with the concept of
language vitality, which is basically concerned with the sustainability of non-global
languages. This paper first explores the subject of localisation and English varieties, and then
examines the attitudes of Malaysian undergraduates towards their English pronunciation and
accent, as well as their perceptions of Malaysian English. A 26-item questionnaire created by
the researchers was utilised to collect data. It was also tested for reliability, with returned
values indicating good internal consistency for all constructs, making the instrument a
reliable option for use in future studies. A total of 253 undergraduates from a public
university responded to the questionnaire and results revealed that overall, the participants
valued their local-accented English and the functionality of Malaysian English, but regarded
this form of the language as substandard. They also considered it important for Malaysians to
achieve native-like English use, particularly for the attainment of better educational and
economic prospects. These findings provide direction for educational policy-planning as well
as English language teaching, and are of relevance to research on English varieties, including
the preservation of linguistic heritage. |
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