A Study on the Linguistic Prejudice Against Korean-accented English *

A Study on the Linguistic Prejudice Against Korean-accented English *

This study investigated the linguistic prejudice against Korean-accented English (KoE) among Korean speaking learners of English (KSLs). To achieve this aim, this study set two objectives: 1) to explore the factors forming the linguistic prejudice against KoE, and 2) to flesh out valid determiners of KSLs’ linguistic prejudice. A questionnaire survey designed to measure prejudice toward foreign accented English by Ura, Preston, and Mearns (2015) was adopted and administered. Data were collected from seventy-eight KSLs, mostly first year college students. The questionnaire items containing 36 items were grouped thematically drawing on the five constructs: credibility, dynamism, social status, language-preference, and foreignness. Descriptive statistical analysis and comparisons between group means were performed for four factors validated with high internal consistency (𝛼 > .80). The findings suggest that the linguistic prejudices toward KoE are not always in line with past research showing somewhat negative attitudes toward KoE. Less proficient KSLs tended to be somewhat tolerant of KoE accented speakers. In addition, the degree of some factors in the linguistic prejudice was partially determined by study disciplines and self-assessed ratings in English speaking skills: KSLs majoring in English and who rated themselves at the moderate skill level showed their disapproval to KoE speech.