ACCENT DIVERSITY AS A BARRIER IN LISTENING COMPREHENSION
Keywords:
accent diversity; listening comprehension; intelligibility; comprehensibility; perceptual adaptation; multi-accent input; L2 phonology.Abstract
This article examines accent diversity as one of the most underestimated yet persistent barriers to second-language (L2) listening comprehension. While most language curricula expose learners almost exclusively to a single standard variety, real-world communication confronts them with a continuous spectrum of native, regional, and non-native accents. Drawing on perceptual-adaptation theory and intelligibility research, the study analyses why unfamiliar accents disrupt phonological decoding, increase cognitive load, and reduce listening accuracy. It distinguishes between intelligibility, comprehensibility, and perceived accentedness, and reviews the so-called interlanguage speech intelligibility benefit, whereby listeners sometimes understand shared-L1 accents more easily than native ones. The article argues that accent variety should be treated not as noise to be eliminated but as a teachable dimension of listening competence. It proposes a pedagogical framework based on graded exposure to multiple accents, explicit phonological awareness training, and the integration of authentic multi-accent input through digital and AI-assisted tools. The expected outcome is a measurable improvement in learners’ ability to process unfamiliar speech, greater resilience in international communication, and a fairer assessment practice that does not privilege a single prestige variety.
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