Two ethnicities, three generations : phonological variation and change in Kuwait
This study investigates accent variation in the speech of three generations of two Kuwaiti ethnic groups: Najdis (originally from Saudi Arabia) and Ajamis (originally from Iran). The ethnic groups were chosen due to their varying social status: the Najdis have held a prestigious status in Kuwait for historical reasons, while Ajamis have held the least prestigious status on the social scale. The two groups have over the years gradually come into contact with each other, and this study explores the outcome of dialect contact by focusing on a set of phonological variables which traditionally had accent-specific realisations. The phonological variables (Ê€) (typically realised by Najdis as [j] and by Ajamis as [Ê€]), (s) (realised by Najdis as [s] more often than Ajamis, who use [sÊ] in exclusive co-articulatory environments) and (Æ) (realised by Najdis as [q] and by Ajamis as [Æ]) were investigated. These variables were analysed in relation to the social variables (of ethnicity, age and gender). Social networks and the correlation between identity and dialect levelling were also considered. Data were collected from 48 Kuwaiti speakers representing the two ethnicities, three ages groups (chosen according to
Taqi, Hanan
Two ethnicities, three generations : phonological variation and change in Kuwait. This study investigates accent variation in the speech of three generations of two Kuwaiti ethnic groups: Najdis (originally from Saudi Arabia) and Ajamis (originally from Iran). The ethnic groups were chosen due to their varying social status: the Najdis have held a prestigious status in Kuwait for historical reasons, while Ajamis have held the least prestigious status on the social scale. The two groups have over the years gradually come into contact with each other, and this study explores the outcome of dialect contact by focusing on a set of phonological variables which traditionally had accent-specific realisations. The phonological variables (Ê€) (typically realised by Najdis as [j] and by Ajamis as [Ê€]), (s) (realised by Najdis as [s] more often than Ajamis, who use [sÊ] in exclusive co-articulatory environments) and (Æ) (realised by Najdis as [q] and by Ajamis as [Æ]) were investigated. These variables were analysed in relation to the social variables (of ethnicity, age and gender). Social networks and the correlation between identity and dialect levelling were also considered. Data were collected from 48 Kuwaiti speakers representing the two ethnicities, three ages groups (chosen according to
ethnicity three_generation phonological_variation change kuwait study_investigate accent variation_speech three_generation kuwaiti ethnic_group originally saudi_arabia originally iran ethnic_group choose due vary social_status hold prestigious status kuwait historical reason hold least prestigious status social scale gradually come_contact study_explore outcome dialect_contact focus set phonological_variable traditionally accent specific realisation phonological_variable typically realise realise often use exclusive articulatory environment realise investigate variable analyse relation social_variable ethnicity age_gender social_network correlation identity dialect level also_consider data_collect kuwaiti speaker represent ethnicity age_group choose accord