Relevant Language Attitude Research

Chapter 3 aims to provide a specific theoretical basis for the study by means of a critical examination of the main themes in attitude measurement and a historical summary of the relevant language attitude research. First, a critical review of the main investigative approaches employed in the measurement of language attitudes is offered. The chapter continues with a brief summary of the major findings from research conducted into attitudes towards the English language generally and then details important studies, where the focus has been on the language attitudes of non-native speakers. The chapter then concentrates more specifically on the language situation in Japan and gives an overview of research into the attitudes of Japanese learners both towards the English language generally and towards varieties of English speech in particular. Finally, a justification is offered for further language attitude studies to be undertaken which would concentrate specifically on evaluations of learners of English, in Japan and elsewhere, towards variation in the English language.