ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how L2 learners’ identity and social affiliations influence their L2 pronunciation. It draws connections between identity and theoretical models to address how native and nonnative sociolinguistic identities develop and diverge, depending on specific constraints and speaker characteristics. The chapter also discusses previous research on learner’s sociophonetic variation, which in some cases does not coincide with native norms because of social affiliation rather than L2 ability. Ultimately, the chapter suggests that the social norms taken as the learner’s target may need to be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the learner’s specific identity and L2 experiences.
