The Attitudinal Component of Variation in American English Foreign (a) Nativization

Abstract

When foreign words spelled with <a> (e. g., llama, Mazda, pasta, spa, tobacco) are phonologically nativized in modern English, the foreign vowel [a] is variably realized as one of two English phonemes: short /æ/ (as in fat) or long/a:/(as in father). This is the linguistic variable “foreign (a).” British and American English show different nativization patterns. Whereas British nativization operates on phonological principles with /æ/ as a default nativization, American English shows a tendency toward nativization with /a:/ that cannot be explained entirely in phonological terms. This article reports the results of a study of 59 American undergraduate students that investigates the role of attitudinal factors in the choice of /æ/ or /a:/ in American nativization. The results show that /a:/is evaluated by Americans as more correct, educated, and sophisticated than /æ/ as a nativization of foreign (a). Both social and phonetic explanations for this evaluation are suggested.