Linguistic identity in nineteenth-century Tyneside dialect songs
This thesis examines the social meanings and identities conveyed by the use of local dialect in nineteenth-century Tyneside song. It is deliberately a hybrid of literary and linguistic approaches,and this dual methodology is used to raise questions about some of the categorical assumptions that have underpinned much previous discussion of this kind of material. The thesis argues that there is a recent tendency amongst scholars of dialect song to oversimplify links between its language and 'solidarity', particularly in respect of large-scale concepts of class 'identity' and geographical 'allegiance', or community 'values'. The relationship between language and identity is not disputed here; however, I examine ways in which songs differentiate, and even play out, antagonisms between identity categories within both the locality and a notion of the working/ labouring class. The result is an investigation that reveals more nuanced understandings of how dialect song of this period connected those who wrote, performed, or heard it. By employing the linguistic concept of indexicality to examine the relationship between language and social meaning, I trace a wider range of semiotic associations than has been previously
Hermeston, Rodney
Linguistic identity in nineteenth-century Tyneside dialect songs. This thesis examines the social meanings and identities conveyed by the use of local dialect in nineteenth-century Tyneside song. It is deliberately a hybrid of literary and linguistic approaches,and this dual methodology is used to raise questions about some of the categorical assumptions that have underpinned much previous discussion of this kind of material. The thesis argues that there is a recent tendency amongst scholars of dialect song to oversimplify links between its language and 'solidarity', particularly in respect of large-scale concepts of class 'identity' and geographical 'allegiance', or community 'values'. The relationship between language and identity is not disputed here; however, I examine ways in which songs differentiate, and even play out, antagonisms between identity categories within both the locality and a notion of the working/ labouring class. The result is an investigation that reveals more nuanced understandings of how dialect song of this period connected those who wrote, performed, or heard it. By employing the linguistic concept of indexicality to examine the relationship between language and social meaning, I trace a wider range of semiotic associations than has been previously
linguistic identity nineteenth_century tyneside dialect song examines social_meaning identity convey use local dialect nineteenth_century tyneside song deliberately hybrid literary_linguistic approach dual use raise_question categorical assumption underpin much previous discussion kind material argues recent tendency amongst scholar dialect song oversimplify link language solidarity particularly_respect large_scale concept class_identity geographical allegiance community values relationship language identity dispute however examine_way song differentiate even play identity category within locality notion working labour class investigation reveals nuanced understanding dialect song period connect write perform hear employ linguistic concept indexicality examine_relationship language social_meaning trace wider_range semiotic association previously