Speech language pathologists’ beliefs and knowledge-base for providing pronunciation instruction

Abstract

Abstract A number of studies have investigated the degree to which language instructors are prepared to offer pronunciation instruction (PI), but little research has addressed the readiness of another group of professionals, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), who are increasingly offering pronunciation instruction under the term foreign accent modification (FAM). To address this gap, the study reported here investigates the extent to which SLPs who offer PI are equipped to do so. We surveyed 54 SLPs who offer PI in North America, focusing on their beliefs, and the extent to which they are able to critically evaluate a range of statements and materials obtained from pronunciation resources. Results indicated that while survey respondents may have transferrable knowledge with respect to the articulation of speech sounds, many of their beliefs and practices are not grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the field. We recommend that SLPs offering PI should first receive specialized training in this area.