Moore Hall 552
dcrowth@hawaii.edu
dustincrowther.weebly.com
My primary research agenda emphasizes the attainment of intelligible speech for additional language speakers, inclusive of both speaker- and listener-based variables. Specifically, I take into account the linguistic and intercultural considerations that define native-nonnative and nonnative-nonnative interaction. Given the increased global spread of English, much of my current research is informed by scholarship derived from Global Englishes (inclusive of world Englishes, English as an international language, and English as a lingua franca). Additional foci include the effectiveness of language preparatory courses in international students’ academic and social adjustments during university study and the promotion of methodological rigor within applied linguistics research.
My recent publication in the Journal of Second Language Pronunciation received the journal’s Best Doctoral Student Paper Award (Crowther, 2020), while my co-authored publication in Studies in Second Language Acquisition was shortlisted for the International Language Testing Association’s 2018 Best Article Award (Crowther, Trofimovich, Saito, & Isaacs, 2018). I recently received a University of Hawai’i Endowment for the Humanities 2020 Summer Research Award worth $3,500 to develop a foreign language speech corpus for intelligibility research.
As an experienced English language instructor, my long-term scholarly objective is to link research to pedagogy. As an early academic who has greatly benefited throughout my graduate studies from the collaborative opportunities afforded to me, I recognize the value of providing similar hands-on guidance and opportunities to my current and future students.
Areas of Expertise
- Second language speech perception (inclusive of both speaker and listener variables)
- Mutual intelligibility in multilingual & multicultural interaction
- Global Englishes (inclusive of world Englishes, English as an international language, English as a lingua franca)
- Methodological practices in applied linguistics (specifically SLA) research
Selected Publications
Edited Volumes
De Costa, P. I., Crowther, D., & Maloney, J. (Eds.). (2019). Investigating World Englishes: Research methodology and practical applications. New York: Routledge.
Peer Reviewed Articles
Crowther, D. (2020). Rating L2 speaker comprehensibility on monologic vs. interactive tasks: What is the effect of speaking task type? Journal of Second Language Pronunciation, 6(1), 96-121.
Crowther, D. (2019). Language investment during university adjustment: The divergent path of two Chinese freshmen. Journal of Language, Identity, and Education. Published online 24 October 2019.
Loewen, S., Gonulal, T., Isbell, D. R., Ballard, L., Crowther, D., Lim, J., Maloney, J., & Tigchelaar, M. (2019). How knowledgeable are SLA researchers about basic statistics? Data from North America and Europe. Studies in Second Language Acquisition. Published online 11 October 2019.
Crowther, D., Trofimovich, P., Saito, K., & Isaacs, T. (2018). Linguistic dimensions of L2 accentedness and comprehensibility vary across speaking tasks. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 40(2), 443-457.
De Costa, P. I., & Crowther, D. (2018). SLA and World Englishes: Establishing a dialogue and common reserve. World Englishes, 37(1), 19-33.
Crowther, D., & De Costa, P. I. (2017). Developing mutual intelligibility and conviviality in the 21st century classroom: Insights from English as a lingua franca and intercultural communication. TESOL Quarterly, 51(2), 450-460.
Crowther, D., Trofimovich, P., & Isaacs, T. (2016). Linguistic dimensions of second language accent and comprehensibility: Nonnative listeners’ perspectives. Journal of Second Language Pronunciation, 2(2), 160-182.
Crowther, D., Trofimovich, P., Saito, K., & Isaacs, T. (2015). Second language comprehensibility revisited: Investigating the effects of learner background. TESOL Quarterly, 49(4), 814-837.
Crowther, D., Trofimovich, P., Isaacs, T., & Saito, K. (2015). Does a speaking task affect second language comprehensibility? Modern Language Journal, 99(1), 80-95.
Book Chapters
Crowther, D. (accepted). Language development in the global English classroom: A role for SLA theoretical inquiry. In Y. Bayyurt (Ed.), World Englishes: Pedagogy. London: Bloomsbury.
Crowther, D. (accepted). Measuring phonology. In P. Winke & T. Brunfaut (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of second language acquisition and language testing. New York: Routledge.
Crowther, D., & Gass, S. (2019). Speaking. In J. W. Schwieter & A. Benati (Eds.). The Cambridge handbook of language learning (pp. 258-282). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Crowther, D. (2019). Addressing pedagogical inquiry in World Englishes. In P. I. De Costa, D. Crowther, & J. Maloney (Eds.). Investigating World Englishes: Research methodology and practical applications (pp. 143-176). New York: Routledge.
Crowther, D., & Maloney, J. (2019). World Englishes – WE, ELF, & EIL. In P. I. De Costa, D. Crowther, & J. Maloney (Eds.). Investigating World Englishes: Research methodology and practical applications (pp. 6-17). New York: Routledge.
Recent and Upcoming Conference Presentations
Crowther, D. (2021, June). Insight from task complexity on global speech production. Paper to be presented at the Psychology of Language Learning conference, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Crowther, D. (2020, March). Global dimensions of second language pronunciation: A meta-analysis of accentedness, comprehensibility, and intelligibility research. Paper to be presented at the American Association of Applied Linguistics conference, Denver, Colorado, USA. (Conference cancelled).
Crowther, D. (2019, September). Accentedness and comprehensibility as predictors of task performance: Listeners’ scalar-based vs. raters’ rubric-based scoring. Paper presented at the Second Language Research Forum 2019, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Crowther, D. (2019, September). “The construct of accuracy in oral language production studies”. In C. Polio (organizer), Multiple perspectives on accuracy in second language acquisition. Paper presented at the Second Language Research Forum 2019, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Crowther, D. (2019, March). Rating L2 Speaker Comprehensibility on Monologic Versus Interactive Tasks: What is the Effect of Speaking Task Type? Paper presented at the annual American Association for Applied Linguistics conference, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Crowther, D., De Costa, P. I., & Maloney, J. (2019, March). Pedagogical Inquiry in English as an International Language: A Synthesis. Paper presented at the TESOL 2019 International Convention & English Language Expo, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.