A sociophonological analysis of Mersea Island English : an investigation of the dipthongs [reproduction of symbols for the dipthongs]
This thesis presents a socio-phonological analysis of three diphthongs in Mersea Island English (MIE). Mersea Island is situated off the North East coast of Essex in South East England. Socio-economically, the Island has seen dramatic change over the past century. Originally quite isolated and economically largely self-sufficient, social and demographic changes have led to significantly greater contact (both social and linguistic) with the mainland. Thus, parallels may be drawn between the developments of Mersea Island and those of, for example, Martha's Vineyard and Ocracoke Island in North America. The nature of these social changes will be evaluated alongside the analysis of the diphthongs MOUTH, PRICE and CHOICE. As a result, the direction of change and typologies of variation present in the speech of three generations of Mersea Islanders will be established, and the relationship between the dialectological findings and external sociolinguistic factors will be explored. The results from the sociolinguistic data analysis will then be considered in light of naturalness and phonological theory. Using an approach combining the mechanics of Optimality Theory (OT) and the principles of Dispersion Theory, a three-tiered
Amos, Jennifer
A sociophonological analysis of Mersea Island English : an investigation of the dipthongs [reproduction of symbols for the dipthongs]. This thesis presents a socio-phonological analysis of three diphthongs in Mersea Island English (MIE). Mersea Island is situated off the North East coast of Essex in South East England. Socio-economically, the Island has seen dramatic change over the past century. Originally quite isolated and economically largely self-sufficient, social and demographic changes have led to significantly greater contact (both social and linguistic) with the mainland. Thus, parallels may be drawn between the developments of Mersea Island and those of, for example, Martha's Vineyard and Ocracoke Island in North America. The nature of these social changes will be evaluated alongside the analysis of the diphthongs MOUTH, PRICE and CHOICE. As a result, the direction of change and typologies of variation present in the speech of three generations of Mersea Islanders will be established, and the relationship between the dialectological findings and external sociolinguistic factors will be explored. The results from the sociolinguistic data analysis will then be considered in light of naturalness and phonological theory. Using an approach combining the mechanics of Optimality Theory (OT) and the principles of Dispersion Theory, a three-tiered
analysis island english investigation reproduction symbol present socio phonological analysis island english island situate north_east coast essex south east_england socio economically island see dramatic_change originally quite isolate economically largely self_sufficient social demographic_change lead significantly great contact social linguistic mainland thus parallel may draw development island example island north_america nature social_change evaluate alongside analysis mouth price choice direction change typology variation present speech three_generation establish relationship finding external sociolinguistic factor explore sociolinguistic data_analysis consider_light naturalness phonological theory using combine mechanic optimality_theory principles theory tiered