The international intelligibility of Hong Kong English

Abstract

This paper reports on an investigation into the international intelligibility of the English of educated Hong Kong speakers whose L1 is Cantonese. Samples of recordings of extended discourse obtained from three female and three male final-year English majors studying at the Hong Kong Institute of Education were played to groups of university students in Singapore and Australia. The listeners were asked to complete worksheets based on the recordings in order to determine the extent to which they found the Hong Kong speakers intelligible. They were also asked to evaluate the extent to which they thought the Hong Kong speakers were intelligent and likeable, and to give reasons for their choices.