Role of developing language attitudes in a study abroad context on adoption of dialectal pronunciations

This study examines how language attitudes play a role in the adoption of dialectal variants in second language (L2) pronunciation in a study abroad context. Twenty‐four North American university students participating in a 6‐week program in Buenos Aires, Argentina, were administered pre and posttest questionnaires and a posttest oral production task to determine how different background and attitudinal variables relate to production of two Argentine dialectal sounds, lenited‐/s/ and assibilated pre‐palatal /ʃ ʒ/. Results show that though students did not produce lenited‐/s/ forms, use of dialectal /ʃ ʒ/ phones by the end of the program was high—but variable—across individuals. Dialect preference, feelings toward Spanish, and desire to sound native‐like were identified as predictors of use of dialectal /ʃ ʒ/. These findings illustrate how social variables play a role in target model accent preferences and adoption of dialectal sounds in L2 pronunciation in a study abroad context.