Attitudes towards Philippine English : a comparative study of Filipinos in the Philippines and Hong Kong /

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Student Projects

2025

Chiu, Kenna

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Although, previous research on the language perceptions of ESL speakers has demonstrated a preference for inner circle varieties of English, such as British or American English, little is known about the perception of emigrant communities on their native English variety. Studies suggest that language perception is closely tied to a sense of identity, which may be stronger among emigrants. In the Philippines, despite a high level of English proficiency, Filipinos often perceive Philippine English (PhE) as less desirable compared to native English varieties. Thus, this research explores whether a stronger sense of identity among emigrant Filipinos influences their attitudes toward PhE. Using a mixed approach, this paper conducted a survey and interviews to examine whether Filipinos in Hong Kong view PhE more positively than Filipinos in the Philippines. 56 Filipino participants living in Hong Kong and 51 Filipino participants living in the Philippines completed a questionnaire that assessed their attitudes toward speech recordings of PhE and American English (AmE). Meanwhile, 6 participants were invited for the interviews that explored the factors influencing their language perceptions. Results indicate that Filipinos in Hong Kong and the Philippines share similar attitudes toward PhE and AmE. Although highly accented PhE is perceived negatively, slightly accented PhE is preferred over native AmE. Furthermore, findings suggest that language biases may originate from compatriots within the same community. Implications for language policy and education are also discussed

LG51.H43 hp BA(LS)/BEd(EL) 2025eb Chiuk

https://educoll.lib.eduhk.hk/records/Rn77M3jy