Chinese College-Student Volunteers' Attitudes Towards World Englishes Before and After Four International Events

This study examined the attitudes of Chinese college-student volunteers towards World Englishes before and after intercultural communication events. Participants were over 750 volunteers in four international events held in... [ view full abstract ]

This study examined the attitudes of Chinese college-student volunteers towards World Englishes before and after intercultural communication events. Participants were over 750 volunteers in four international events held in China, i.e., Beijing Olympic Games (2008), Shanghai World Expo (2010), Guangzhou Asian Games (2010), and Shenzhen Universiade (2011). A subjective projection test was administered before and after the events, including five varieties of World Englishes: British English (BE), American English (AE), African-American English (AAE), Indian English (IE), and China English (CE). Results showed that accuracy rates of variety recognition had the following ranking: CE > AE/BE > IE > AAE; that the recognition accuracy rates for all varieties were improved after the events; that evaluation of the varieties formed the following ranking: AE > BE > AAE > CE > IE; and that after the events, evaluation of BE, AE, AAE and CE became more positive, while that of IE did not show a unified direction of change. Such results indicated increased identification with the local variety on the one hand, and stable stereotypes on the other.