Mechanisms, motivations and outcomes of change in Morley (Leeds) English
In this thesis I examine the tension that exists within a situation of increased geographical and social mobility between the processes which bring about supralocalism and the retention of traditional features within a linguistic variety. The notions of supra-localism and linguistic distinctiveness appear paradoxical, given that the mechanisms by which supra-localism occurs (namely, levelling and diffusion) typically involve the loss of regionally or socially distinctive features in favour of more widespread norms (Williams and Kerswill 1999, Milroy 2002b, Britain 2002c). However, ~although levelling constitutes a pressure towards linguistic convergence, it does not follow that communities whose dialects undergo this process lose their linguistic distinctiveness~ (Milroy 2002b:9). My aim is thus to illuminate whether (and if so, how) these two, seemingly incompatible outcomes of contact can co-exist with one another within a given speech community. The speech community chosen for investigation here is Morley, a suburb five miles south-west of Leeds, in the North of England. In this thesis I address the following research questions: I. In what ways are diffusion, levelling and retention of traditional dialect
Richards, Hazel Marie
Mechanisms, motivations and outcomes of change in Morley (Leeds) English. In this thesis I examine the tension that exists within a situation of increased geographical and social mobility between the processes which bring about supralocalism and the retention of traditional features within a linguistic variety. The notions of supra-localism and linguistic distinctiveness appear paradoxical, given that the mechanisms by which supra-localism occurs (namely, levelling and diffusion) typically involve the loss of regionally or socially distinctive features in favour of more widespread norms (Williams and Kerswill 1999, Milroy 2002b, Britain 2002c). However, ~although levelling constitutes a pressure towards linguistic convergence, it does not follow that communities whose dialects undergo this process lose their linguistic distinctiveness~ (Milroy 2002b:9). My aim is thus to illuminate whether (and if so, how) these two, seemingly incompatible outcomes of contact can co-exist with one another within a given speech community. The speech community chosen for investigation here is Morley, a suburb five miles south-west of Leeds, in the North of England. In this thesis I address the following research questions: I. In what ways are diffusion, levelling and retention of traditional dialect
mechanisms motivation outcomes change leeds english examine tension exists within situation increase geographical_social mobility process bring retention traditional feature within linguistic variety notion supra localism linguistic distinctiveness appear paradoxical give mechanism supra localism occurs namely level diffusion typically involve loss regionally socially distinctive_feature favour widespread norm williams britain however although level constitutes pressure towards linguistic convergence follow community whose dialect undergo process lose linguistic distinctiveness aim thus illuminate whether seemingly incompatible outcome contact exist one_another within give speech_community speech_community choose investigation suburb south_west leeds north_england address_follow question way diffusion level retention traditional_dialect