Thai tourism students’ attitudes toward English accent varieties: Intelligibility, linguistic identity, and communication confidence

Chonthicha Muenchum; Eric A. Ambele

doi:10.62819/jel.2026.2395

Authors

Chonthicha Muenchum Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mahasarakham University, Thailand
Eric A. Ambele Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mahasarakham University, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62819/jel.2026.2395

Keywords:

communication confidence, English accent variety, intelligibility, linguistic identity

Abstract

This study investigates Thai undergraduate tourism students’ attitudes toward English accent variety and examines their relationships with linguistic identity and communication confidence. Guided by Global Englishes and English as a Lingua Franca perspective, a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. Data were collected from 50 students through a questionnaire, followed by semi-structured interviews with 15 participants. Quantitative results indicated relatively high exposure to diverse English accents (M = 3.77), with Thai English (M = 4.53) and American/British accents (M = 4.33) most frequently encountered. Intelligibility was prioritized, with exposure facilitating comprehension (M = 4.02), while native-speaker accents remained associated with professionalism (M = 4.10), despite the general acceptability of Thai English (M = 3.85). Interview findings further revealed that students evaluated accents based on communicative effectiveness rather than native-like pronunciation, and that real-world experience enhanced their confidence in interacting with diverse speakers, although native accents continued to be linked to prestige. Overall, the findings highlight a tension between communicative effectiveness and native-speaker ideology in tourism contexts.

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