PAKISTANI UNIVERSITY STUDENT’S ATTITUDES TOWARD BRITISH, AMERICAN, AND PAKISTANI ENGLISH ACCENTS: EVIDENCE FROM A VERBAL-GUISE STUDY

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate the attitudes of Pakistani university students toward the British English (Received Pronunciation), American English (General American), and Pakistani English accents. This study examines how speakers of these three accents are evaluated in terms of competence, prestige, trustworthiness, likability, and to explores the acceptability of Pakistani English as a legitimate variety. Data were collected from 100 Pakistani university students through the Verbal-Guise Technique (VGT). These students listened to speech samples of the three accent varieties and filled a structured questionnaire. The validity of the instrument was confirmed through expert review, pilot testing and analysis of the data. The data were analyzed descriptively in Jamovi to explore differences in participants’ ratings. Overall, it was found that all three accents were rated positively.  American English received the highest ratings for competence, prestige, trustworthiness, and likability. Pakistani English received positive evaluations especially regarding competence and trustworthiness; British English received good ratings across all dimensions. The finding shows native English accents still command overt prestige but Pakistani English as a competent, trustworthy and socially acceptable variety is increasingly gaining recognition. According to the research of language attitudes and World Englishes generally held in Pakistan, the study shows a gradual shift away from exclusive reliance on native-speaker norms toward increased acceptance of localized varieties of English in the context of Pakistan.