Sociolinguistic variation in a second language : the influence of local accent on the pronunciation of non-native English speakers living in Manchester
This study is an investigation into sociolinguistic variation in a second language. More specifically, it is an investigation into the extent to which speakers of English as a second language acquire particular features of the variety of English they are exposed to. The speakers in question are Polish migrants, and the variety of English is that found in Manchester, a city in the North West of England.The research uses data gathered from 41 participants who have been in Manchester for various lengths of time and who came to the UK for a wide range of reasons. The aim was to explore the extent to which local accent features are acquired by second language English speakers, and the linguistic and social factors which influence this acquisition. Methodologically, the research draws on practices from variationist sociolinguistics, but by using them in a second language context, the study has the additional aim of developing the link between these two areas of study. Four linguistic features were identified, on the basis of them each exhibiting local variants that differ from any pedagogical model of English the speakers will have been exposed to in Poland. All four demonstrated some degree of change towards the
Drummond, Rob John
sociolinguistic variation  ; second language acquisition  ; dialect acquisition  ; sociophonetics ; Manchester  ; Polish ; t-glottaling ; ing ; STRUT  ; h-dropping ; gender ; identity ; immigration
Sociolinguistic variation in a second language : the influence of local accent on the pronunciation of non-native English speakers living in Manchester. This study is an investigation into sociolinguistic variation in a second language. More specifically, it is an investigation into the extent to which speakers of English as a second language acquire particular features of the variety of English they are exposed to. The speakers in question are Polish migrants, and the variety of English is that found in Manchester, a city in the North West of England.The research uses data gathered from 41 participants who have been in Manchester for various lengths of time and who came to the UK for a wide range of reasons. The aim was to explore the extent to which local accent features are acquired by second language English speakers, and the linguistic and social factors which influence this acquisition. Methodologically, the research draws on practices from variationist sociolinguistics, but by using them in a second language context, the study has the additional aim of developing the link between these two areas of study. Four linguistic features were identified, on the basis of them each exhibiting local variants that differ from any pedagogical model of English the speakers will have been exposed to in Poland. All four demonstrated some degree of change towards the
sociolinguistic_variation second_language influence_local accent pronunciation non_native english_speaker live manchester study investigation sociolinguistic_variation second_language specifically investigation extent speaker_english second_language acquire particular feature variety_english expose speaker question polish migrant variety_english find manchester city north_west_england use data_gather participant manchester various lengths time come wide_range reason aim_explore extent local accent feature acquire second_language english_speaker linguistic social_factor influence acquisition methodologically draws practice variationist sociolinguistics use second_language context study additional aim_develop link two_area study linguistic_feature identify basis exhibit local variant differ pedagogical model english_speaker expose poland demonstrate degree change towards