A survey on inappropriateness of native Persian speakers using English in speech

The perceived importance of focusing on fluency through a cognitive outlook has motivated this study to explore the main L2 speech-production deficiency sources (DSs) and problem-solving mechanisms (PSMs) of non-fluent Iranian L2 speakers using a psycholinguistic model of speech production (Levelt, 1989, 1999). The task-based speech samples of 180 L2 speakers were audio-recorded, and an analytic fluency scale was developed and used to identify 50 fluent and 50 non-fluent L2 speakers. Two questionnaires and a series of output-related retrospective interviews were employed to survey the (non)fluent speakers’ DSs and PSMs. The findings indicated that the non-fluent participants mainly suffered from resource deficits, processing time pressure, and perceived deficiencies in the interlocutor’s performance. Meanwhile, they resorted to ineffective oral-production strategies such as message abandonment and reduction, resulting in an unnatural or non-fluent speech. The fluent participants, however, did not suffer from these DSs and employed effective PSMs more consistently. They were able to dynamically reformulate the preverbal message, apply a revitalized encoding mechanism, use various stalling mechanisms, and negotiate meaning in order to monitor the articulation. The findings can have implications for the assessment of L2 speaking and fluency as well as for L2 education.