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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Danielle Turton
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This chapter provides an overview of Mancunian English, focusing on consonantal changes in progress in the dialect. It begins with a description of the most distinctive features of Manchester’s vowels and consonants. This is followed by a quantitative exploration of the linguistic and social constraints on variation in T-glottalling, TH-fronting, and H-dropping, on the basis of a sample of 86 speakers stratified by age, gender and socio-economic status. H-dropping is a case of stable sociolinguistic variation, with working-class males showing the highest rates; there is a strong effect of grammatical category, with preceding and following segments also playing a role. T-glottalling in word-final position is a change nearing completion, initially led by working class males, with the youngest generation of Mancunians in all social groups showing high and comparable rates. Intervocalic T-glottalling is less advanced and shows more social differentiation; working class males are still leading it, but other social groups are catching up in the youngest generation. Both T-glottalling and TH-fronting appear to be male-led changes in Manchester. Internal factors, such as position in the word, following segment, and voicing, are shown to play a role as well.
Author(s): Baranowksi M, Turton D
Editor(s): Hickey, R
Publication type: Book Chapter
Publication status: Published
Book Title: Researching Northern English
Year: 2015
Pages: 293–316
Print publication date: 15/12/2015
Acceptance date: 31/08/2014
Series Title: Varieties of English Around the World
Publisher: John Benjamins
Place Published: Amsterdam and Philadelphia
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/veaw.g55.13bar
DOI: 10.1075/veaw.g55.13bar
Library holdings: Search Newcastle University Library for this item
ISBN: 9789027249159