Linguistic Identity and Speech: How One’s Linguistic Attitude towards L1 and L2 Affects the Perception and Production of L2 Phonemes

Abstract

English and Arabic share similar sounds but certain phonemes, such as English /p/, /v/, and /ɡ/, exist in English but not in Arabic. Many factors can affect perception of these non-native phonemes by Lebanese speakers, and identity plays a major role in how one acts and speaks. This study examines the extent to which adult Lebanese speakers can perceive L2 phonemes and differentiate between them. The attitude towards one’s native language, which is Lebanese Arabic in the present study, was used to test how linguistic identity correlates with the perception and production of phonemes. A questionnaire was used to measure attitudes, and an AX discrimination test and production tests were utilized for perception and production. The results show that more exposure and a positive attitude towards English are linked to more accurate perception of the phonemes and an English-like production where the voiceless stops were aspirated. A mixing of languages was present because while the voiceless stops were aspirated, a feature present in English but not in Arabic, the voiced stops were actually voiced, a feature present in Arabic but not in English. Moreover, the attitude towards Lebanese Arabic in this study was affected by the sociopolitical context in Lebanon, which in turn had an effect on Lebanese speakers’ choice of language. Participants with a more positive attitude towards English produced more aspirated voiceless stops than those who favored Lebanese Arabic who, in turn, produced longer voiced stops.