Pronunciation of L2 English in Afrikaans speakers who have relocated to Aotearoa-New Zealand

Abstract

An ever greater number of South Africans are relocating to New Zealand and now comprise the fifth largest group of migrants in the country. Among this group, there are first language (L1) Afrikaans speakers who bring with them qualifications, skills, and more importantly, their distinct second-language English. It appears that these Afrikaans speakers quickly adapt to the pronunciation of New Zealand English (NZE). The present study seeks to shed light on changes which occur in the pronunciation of Afrikaans-speaking South Africans living in New Zealand. The results of the present study show that there is a difference in the L2 English pronunciation between Afrikaans speakers in New Zealand and their counterparts in South Africa. The L2 English pronunciation of Afrikaners in New Zealand is shown generally to approximate towards the articulation of NZE. Several factors appeared to influence differences in pronunciation, for example gender, identity change, having a NZE-speaking partner, and exposure to the L2. Afrikaans speakers in New Zealand seem to identify more readily as Kiwis than with their South African English counterparts. The present study concludes with the suggestion that, along with other factors, a change in identity apparently facilitates a change in pronunciation toward NZE pronunciation. The findings provide a novel perspective on the Afrikaans language in New Zealand, and offer a new perspective on the influence of identity on second language acquisition.