When foreign words spelled with (a)(e. g., llama, Mazda, pasta, spa, tobacco) are phonologically nativized in modern English, the foreign vowel [a] is variably realized as one of two English phonemes: short /'/ (as in fat) or long /a:/ (as in father). This is the linguistic variable "foreign (a)." British and American English show different nativization patterns. Whereas British nativization operates on phonological principles with /'/ as a default nativization, American English shows a tendency toward nativization with /a:/ that cannot be explained entirely in phonological terms. This article reports the results of a study of 59 American undergraduate students that investigates the role of attitudinal factors in the choice of /'/ or /a:/ in American nativization. The results show that /a:/is evaluated by Americans as more correct, educated, and sophisticated than /'/ as a nativization of foreign (a). Both social and phonetic explanations for this evaluation are suggested.