This paper presents the effects of first language (L1) on the spoken English accents of non-native speakers. This paper analysed spoken English of native speakers from Spanish, French and Chinese through a review of past literature, focusing on phonological features, intonation patterns and overall intelligibility. The findings demonstrate that speakers’ L1 has a major impact on how they pronounce English and that they maintain unique phonological traits in their spoken language. Furthermore, the accent was further impacted by dialectal differences within the L1 group, which resulted in unique intonation patterns that impacted listeners’ assessments of intelligibility and fluency. These results highlight the intricate relationship between second language learning and the native language system, indicating that teachers should take L1 influence into account when creating lesson plans for English language learners. This study contributes to understanding accent formation and provides insights into language teaching and assessment practices.
