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Insight Paper 3 - Journal - PRINT 1 PAGE

This article analyzes examiner comments from a speaking test used in Hong Kong between 2003 and 2011 to evaluate how well the test reflects norms for international intelligibility. The study compares the examiner comments to criteria for intelligibility and analyzes which phonological features received the most comments. The findings suggest that while most of what examiners notice is important for intelligibility, the importance placed on some suprasegmental features is questionable from an intelligibility perspective. The study critically examines the concept of intelligibility and its relevance for language testing.

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38 views1 page

Insight Paper 3 - Journal - PRINT 1 PAGE

This article analyzes examiner comments from a speaking test used in Hong Kong between 2003 and 2011 to evaluate how well the test reflects norms for international intelligibility. The study compares the examiner comments to criteria for intelligibility and analyzes which phonological features received the most comments. The findings suggest that while most of what examiners notice is important for intelligibility, the importance placed on some suprasegmental features is questionable from an intelligibility perspective. The study critically examines the concept of intelligibility and its relevance for language testing.

Uploaded by

Ben
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Language Testing and International

Intelligibility: A Hong Kong Case Study


Andrew Sewell
Pages 423-443 | Published online: 11 Dec 2013
https://doi.org/10.1080/15434303.2013.824974
Abstract
A central issue in language testing is the choice of norms, and the need to reconcile
notions of “standard” English with local language norms and features. Data from studies
of international intelligibility indicate that some features of “standard” language
descriptions, based on native-speaker language use, are not essential for successful
communication. A specific question in test design is thus the extent to which descriptors
and rater decisions reflect native-speaker, as opposed to local, language norms. This
article takes a case study approach by focusing on a speaking test used in Hong Kong.
It analyses published examiner comments from 12 examination sessions between 2003
and 2011 and compares them with criteria for international intelligibility. It also analyses
the distribution of the comments among various segmental and suprasegmental
phonological categories and relates this to intelligibility research and to theoretical
considerations. The study critically evaluates the concept of “intelligibility” and considers
its relevance for language testing, and revisits certain aspects of the “local norms”
debate. The findings of the study suggest that what examiners notice is generally also
what is important for international intelligibility, although the importance of certain
suprasegmental features is questionable from an intelligibility standpoint.

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