THE COMPREHENSIBILITY OF THREE VARIETIES OF ENGLISH FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS IN SEVEN COUNTRIES

Nonnative speakers of a language are frequently tested on their ability to comprehend native speakers. Comprehension of other nonnative speakers is seldom if ever tested. Reported are the results of a study testing the comprehensibility of 1 native & 2 nonnative varieties of Eng with native & nonnative users of English in 7 countries. Ss were 3 English as a second language (ESL) groups from Hong Kong, India, & the Phillipines; 3 Eng as a foreign language (EFL) groups from Japan, Taiwan, & Thailand; & 1 group of native speakers from Hawaii (total = 207). The Michigan Test of Aural Comprehension was recorded by US, an Indian, & a Japanese speaker & administered to all Ss in all 3 versions, along with a set of questions concerning personal data. Subjective responses were found to be good indicators of more objective test results. It was also found that speaker nationality was difficult to determine from the tapes. US listeners were best at comprehending all 3 speakers. Ss in the ESL countries had better comprehension than those in EFL countries. All ESL & EFL speakers found the US speaker easiest to comprehend. It is suggested that students of English have more exposure to nonnative speaker varieties, since they are likely to come into extensive contact with other nonnative speakers. 5 Tables. Modified HA