English as an international language, accent and identity enactment: A case study of an Iranian Arab learner of English

The present research investigated the process and intersection of language development, accent and identity enactment and negotiation throughout a two-year case study of an adult Arab learner of English in Iran. Frequent unfocused formal and informal interviews with Majid, who studied English in a private language institute in Ahwaz, Iran, and the subsequent analysis of those interviews, demonstrated that Majid did not make any attempt to conceal his mother tongue identity through L2. Quite contrary to expectations, he did not look down on his English speech which sounded heavily nonnative Arabic-accented and could easily give away his Arabic identity to his fellows during interaction with them. Nor did he hide his Arabic accent in English. On the contrary, he did not attempt to sound Arabic or English while speaking English because ‘accent is not something to be proud of’. Close observations of his speech, however, revealed his deliberate attempt at sounding Arabic most probably to enact his L1 ethnic identity. It seems that Majid privileged communication and conveyance of content and message to all other aspects of language including even form, accuracy and a target language native-like accent. In conclusion, since Majid worked as a nurse in hospital and wished to continue his career in one of the Arab countries, his marked reluctance to conceal his L1 identity in L2 speech can be examined in the context of English as an International Language (EIL) as he did not conceive of a future in which contact with native speakers would sound possible.