In the field of language teaching and assessment, particularly in relation to second language acquisition and pronunciation, the concepts of intelligibility, acceptability, and comprehensibility are crucial.

1. Intelligibility:
   • Definition: The extent to which a listener understands a speaker’s intended message.
   • Focus: On the recognition of words and utterances.
   • Importance: Fundamental for basic communication.
2. Comprehensibility:
   • Definition: The ease with which a listener understands a speaker’s message.
   • Focus: On the effort required to understand the speech.
   • Importance: Affects the overall effectiveness of communication.
3. Acceptability:
   • Definition: The degree to which speech conforms to the listener’s expectations of what sounds “correct” or “native-like.”
   • Focus: On social and cultural norms of language use.
   • Importance: Influences social acceptance and perception of the speaker.

These concepts are interrelated but distinct:

• Speech can be intelligible but not easily comprehensible (requiring more effort to understand).
• Speech can be comprehensible but not considered acceptable in certain contexts.
• Acceptability often varies based on the listener’s background and the communication context.

In language teaching, there’s a growing emphasis on prioritizing intelligibility and comprehensibility over native-like acceptability, especially in global English contexts. This approach recognizes the diverse nature of English use worldwide and focuses on effective communication rather than adherence to a single “standard” accent.