The dialect of New Mills : linguistic change in a North-West Derbyshire community
This research has two primary aims, both of which are intrinsically linked: firstly, to provide a description of the traditional dialect of New Mills on the levels of phonology (a systematic description), grammar and lexis; secondly, to analyse linguistic change that is currently occurring within the traditional dialect. The first of these aims is achieved by analysing the speech of the oldest members of the community. A qualitative age-based comparison enables the second objective to be undertaken. In order to record the traditional dialect, informants were selected who were most likely to use this stratum of speech (i.e. older working class male informants). Moreover, as this is essentially a study of linguistic change in apparent time, all independent variables, except age, are kept constant. Thus the data is taken from a socially homogenous group of speakers, who only vary by age, ranging from retired persons to teenagers. Theoretically, this should enable an analysis of change within the traditional dialect only, and thus provide a clearer picture as to the extent and nature of the change in progress. Attention is focused upon standardisation and / or levelling within the traditional dialect, and the
Fyne, Jon
The dialect of New Mills : linguistic change in a North-West Derbyshire community. This research has two primary aims, both of which are intrinsically linked: firstly, to provide a description of the traditional dialect of New Mills on the levels of phonology (a systematic description), grammar and lexis; secondly, to analyse linguistic change that is currently occurring within the traditional dialect. The first of these aims is achieved by analysing the speech of the oldest members of the community. A qualitative age-based comparison enables the second objective to be undertaken. In order to record the traditional dialect, informants were selected who were most likely to use this stratum of speech (i.e. older working class male informants). Moreover, as this is essentially a study of linguistic change in apparent time, all independent variables, except age, are kept constant. Thus the data is taken from a socially homogenous group of speakers, who only vary by age, ranging from retired persons to teenagers. Theoretically, this should enable an analysis of change within the traditional dialect only, and thus provide a clearer picture as to the extent and nature of the change in progress. Attention is focused upon standardisation and / or levelling within the traditional dialect, and the
dialect new linguistic change north west derbyshire community primary_aim intrinsically link firstly provide_description traditional_dialect new level phonology systematic_description grammar lexis secondly analyse linguistic change currently occur_within traditional_dialect first aim_achieve analyse speech old member_community qualitative age based comparison enable second_objective undertaken order record traditional_dialect informant select likely use stratum speech old work_class male informant moreover essentially study linguistic change apparent time independent_variable except age keep constant thus data_take socially homogenous group speaker vary age_range person teenager theoretically enable analysis change within traditional_dialect thus_provide clear_picture extent_nature change_progress attention_focus upon standardisation level within traditional_dialect