About
Jette Hansen Edwards
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Main areas of research
- Second Language Acquisition
- Applied Linguistics
- Language Development
- L2 phonology
- World Englishes
- L2 writing
Bio
Jette G. Hansen Edwards is Professor of Applied English Linguistics at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Originally from Denmark and educated in the United States, she has worked in Hong Kong since 2003. Her research focuses primarily on the acquisition and use of a second language sound system, the social and linguistic factors that foster and constrain acquisition and use, and speech intelligibility, particularly in world Englishes contexts. She has published seven books to date, including four books on phonetics and phonology: Social Factors and L2 Phonetics and Phonology(2024, Cambridge University Press), The Sounds of English around the World: An Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology (2023, Cambridge University Press), Phonology and Second Language Acquisition (2008/2011, John Benjamins), and Acquiring a nonnative phonology: Linguistic Constraints and Social Barriers (2006, Continuum Publishers).
Her recent book, The Sounds of English around the World: An Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology (2023, Cambridge University Press), is the first to place world Englishes and sociolinguistic variation at the center of the discussion of English phonetics and phonology. She has also contributed chapters on phonetics and phonology to key volumes and journals in the field including The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of World Englishes, The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics, The Routledge Handbook of Second Language Acquisition and Sociolinguistics, Social Dynamics in Second Language Accent, The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary English Pronunciation, Language Learning, Applied Linguistics, Studies in Second Language Acquisition World Englishes, Multilingua, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, English World-Wide, and Asian Englishes.
Research Interests
- Social factors and the acquisition of a second language phonology
- The phonology of World Englishes
- Sociolinguistic variation in World Englishes
- Speech intelligibility
- Peer response in second language writing classrooms
Keynote Lecture
Speech Intelligibility in a Multilingual World
This keynote begins by reframing a familiar but enduring question: what does it mean for speech to be intelligible in an increasingly multilingual world? While speech intelligibility has long been examined within second language acquisition and World Englishes research, the talk argues that intelligibility is not a fixed property of speech, but a dynamic, relational phenomenon that emerges at the intersection of speakers, listeners, languages, and social contexts. By foregrounding the constructs of intelligibility, comprehensibility, accentedness, and acceptability, the keynote highlights how judgments about speech are shaped as much by expectations and ideologies as by acoustic or phonological form, with particular consequences for English and other global languages.
The plenary then explores the complex constellation of linguistic and social factors that shape intelligibility. Linguistic features at multiple levels—segmental and suprasegmental patterns, fluency, and semantic grammatical choices—interact with speaker and listener variables such as proficiency, prior experience with languages and varieties, and deeply held attitudes toward speakers and cultures. These interactions reveal intelligibility as a shared accomplishment rather than an individual deficit, challenging traditional speaker centered models and underscoring the role of listeners in the co construction of meaning.
A central focus of the keynote concerns linguistic bias, particularly in relation to accented speech. Although decades of research have demonstrated that phonological features influence intelligibility, there is still no consensus on which features matter most, or how their impact varies across listener backgrounds. The keynote argues that social evaluations of accent frequently outpace actual communicative breakdown, reinforcing inequities and privileging certain varieties over others. Recognizing and interrogating these biases is presented as essential for advancing theory, informing pronunciation pedagogy, and promoting more equitable communicative practices in multilingual and multicultural settings.
The keynote concludes by looking ahead to new methodological and technological frontiers in speech intelligibility research. Emerging tools such as eye tracking, functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and artificial intelligence open new possibilities for examining real time processing and neural alignment during interaction. By integrating linguistic theory, social insight, and cutting edge technology, the plenary envisions a future of intelligibility research that is not only more precise, but also more humane, inclusive, and responsive to the realities of global communication.
Relevant publications:
- Hansen Edwards, J. G. & Zampini, M. L. (2025). “The impact of audio vs. audiovisual stimuli with or without face masking on judgments about different varieties of Asian English.” World Englishes. Early view.
- Hansen Edwards, J. G. (2024). Social Factors and L2 Phonetics and Phonology. Cambridge University Press Elements in Phonetics Series. Cambridge University Press.
- Hansen Edwards, J. G. (2023). The Sounds of English around the World: An Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology. Cambridge University Press.
- Hansen Edwards, J. G., Zampini, M. L. & Cunningham, C. (2019). “Listener proficiency and shared background effects on the accentedness, comprehensibility, and intelligibility of four varieties of English.” Journal of Monolingual and Bilingual Speech 1(2), 333-356.
- Hansen Edwards, J. G., Zampini, M. L. & Cunningham, C. (2019). “Listener judgments of speaker and speech traits of Asian Englishes.” Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 40(8), 691-706.
- Hansen Edwards, J. G., Zampini, M. L. & Cunningham, C. (2018). “The accentedness, comprehensibility, and intelligibility of different varieties of Asian Englishes.” World Englishes 37(4), 538-557.