Communicate Englishly in the ASEAN Context

 Janpha Thadphoothon

I think many begin to realize that English is a truely global language, and this makes the world a different place. Yet, many maintain their belief that the language belongs to them; others as users must follow their conventions and standards. This article calls for a new paradigm of Englishes.

Questions

-  What is intelligibility in real communication?

-        How important is learning [UC3]  pronunciation to[UC4]  attain [UC5] an intelligible level?[UC6] 

Justification:

-        to understand what intelligibility is and the needs of learners  [UC7] 

-        to explore ways of teaching pronunciation appropriate(ly) [UC8] for each learner’s level

Procedure:

       -  Subjects

         The teachers in ELICOS classes are appropriate for this research.

-        Method

 Interview or several questionnaires

Preliminary findings

-        The definition of intelligibility

-        The definition of English as an International Language

-        The current status of English within the Outer Circle

-        The phonological varieties of English

Examples

1.   One is about intelligibility itself.

◦ Have you ever had difficulties to communicate with students due to their  way of speaking? [UC9] 

◦ How do you recognize intelligibility and for communication?[UC10] 

◦ Do you think that teaching pronunciation is important for learners to attain intelligibility?

2.      The other is about pedagogical issues.

◦ What do you do in actual in order to promote the learner’s intelligibility?

◦ What do you think the effective ways are?

◦ How much time do you take to teach pronunciation (per week?)?[UC11] 

◦ Do you correct your learner’s error[UC12]  in pronunciation.

◦ What kind of materials do you use as speaking model[UC13] ?

◦ Have you ever noticed that learners actually attain intelligibility after learning pronunciation?[UC14] 

Research Question

   My Research Question [UC15] comes from the fact that the pronunciation of American and Australian is clearly different from that of Malaysian speakers.  In respect of this, I think that Japanese speakers are also different, despite of the fact that teaching pronunciation is stressed in Japan. The differences in pronunciation can be seen as a result of the influence of the mother tongue or dialects on other languages[UC16] .

 I can see clearly that such the difference in pronunciation is divided into three circles, which are defined by B. Kachru. [UC17] 

Those are the Inner, Outer, and Expanding Circles. (If you need, you should explain the definition.)

 However, American and Australian speakers coming from the Inner Circles communicate with the speakers from Outer and Expanding Circles.

Therefore, I questioned what intelligibility in the real communication is and to what extent teachers should teach pronunciation to make their students attain an adequate intelligible level.

Justification:

 Justification is that the deeper understanding of recognitions about intelligibility [UC18] is important to teach and learn pronunciation.

Because the extent of intelligible level learners should attain is very ambiguous, especially, in EFL class, it is confusing.

They can hardly have opportunity to communicate with native speakers. In other words, they cannot aware of intelligible level in real communication.

This research outcome could become a source of thinking about ideal models of intelligibility. Ideal model is very significant to attain an intelligible level. It does not mean that learners should become the same level as such models. Rather, learners should know the basic models of English speakers.

In actual situation of teaching English, because both teachers and learners always bear the burden about pronunciation, this outcome could help them to decide target models.

Procedure

Subjects:

  Teachers in ELICOS are appropriate for this research. They must encounter difficulties to teach pronunciation, for they always teach English to many international students.

The way of research:

 I plan to ask them about 10 to 15 questionnaires. The content is composed of two issues.

Preliminary findings

The definition of intelligibility

The intelligibility is defined as the low-level oral/ aural recognition of words and utterances by Smith and Nelson. (Comprehensibility, Interpretability)

English as an International Language (McKay, L 2002: 12)

1.        As an international language, English is used both in a global sense for international communication between countries and in a local sense for a language of wider communication within multilingual communities.

2.        As it is an international language, the use of English is no longer connected to the culture of the Inner Circle.

3.        As an international language in a local sense, English becomes embedded in the culture of the country in which it is used.

4.        As English is an international language in a global sense, one of its primary function is to enable speakers to share with others their ideas and culture.

Current status of English within the Outer Circles

  Varieties of English on lexical, grammatical, and phonological level are broadly accepted in the world. In some countries, English has already been institutionalized as their official language, because of the distinction of languages used by people within those countries. Thus, the people are bilingual speakers between English and their own mother tongue or dialects. English working in such communities is developing day by day (such as Singaporean English, Indian English, Malay English…).

 Therefore, the attitudes toward such varieties of English are changing[UC19] . Such differences are regarded as one of the national and cultural identity. In other words, the framework of Standard English is getting spread.

Phonological varieties

 As I said, varieties are accepted as one of representation of certain community. The Pronunciation varieties are not exception. [UC20] On the other hand, it does not mean that people ignore the functional rules of English. Rather, they learn a basic pronunciation to assure intelligibility in order to communicate with speakers within and outside of their countries. [UC21] 

In respect of non-native speakers, it is considered they should learn a model of native speaker’s accent.

 [UC1]Is this the title of your research?

 [UC2] A plural , I think.

 [UC3]Having good?

 [UC4] in

 [UC5] attaining

 [UC6] of proficiency?

 [UC7] You need to finish this idea, e.g. the need of learners to have intelligible pronunciation…

 [UC8] adverb?

 [UC9] Not clear, you mean their accent?

 [UC10] Try to use a simpler expression

 [UC11] be specific.

 [UC12] Errors?

 [UC13] s

 [UC14] This question is too broad. Try something basic.

 [UC15] One question only?

 [UC16] You need a reference. Try to find one to back your assertion.

 [UC17] Year?

 [UC18] And language varieties? The role of English as a global language?

 [UC19] I like this idea.

 [UC20] I got your idea.

 [UC21] Very good conclusion

References

Kachru, Yamuna & Smith, Larry (2008) Cultures, Contexts, and World Englishes. Routledge.