Phonological and lexical change in the dialects of east Devon and west Somerset, 1948-1995
This thesis is a survey of phonological and lexical changes that have occurred in the dialects of east Devon and west Somerset (eD/wSo) during the second half of the twentieth century. The survey uses data recorded by the present author from three separate generations of informants between 1993 and 1995 to construct a detailed account of the phonological systems and non-standard lexicon of the eD/wSo dialects as they exist today, and compares these data with those recorded from the eD/wSo area by the <I>Survey of English Dialects </I>between 1948 and 1961. We present both diachronic and synchronic descriptions of the phonology of the eD/wSo dialects. First we give an outline account of the historical progression of the vowels, diphthongs, triphthongs and consonants from their Middle English forms to those of the present day, placing particular emphasis upon the changes that have occurred over the last half-century. We then offer a phonemic analysis of the modern eD/wSo sound system using minimal-pairs contrasts, providing an overview of the range of phonetic and phonemic forms that are present in the eD/wSo dialects of today. We then examine the maintenance of the traditional non-standard lexicon of the eD/wSo
Jones, J. M.
Phonological and lexical change in the dialects of east Devon and west Somerset, 1948-1995. This thesis is a survey of phonological and lexical changes that have occurred in the dialects of east Devon and west Somerset (eD/wSo) during the second half of the twentieth century. The survey uses data recorded by the present author from three separate generations of informants between 1993 and 1995 to construct a detailed account of the phonological systems and non-standard lexicon of the eD/wSo dialects as they exist today, and compares these data with those recorded from the eD/wSo area by the <I>Survey of English Dialects </I>between 1948 and 1961. We present both diachronic and synchronic descriptions of the phonology of the eD/wSo dialects. First we give an outline account of the historical progression of the vowels, diphthongs, triphthongs and consonants from their Middle English forms to those of the present day, placing particular emphasis upon the changes that have occurred over the last half-century. We then offer a phonemic analysis of the modern eD/wSo sound system using minimal-pairs contrasts, providing an overview of the range of phonetic and phonemic forms that are present in the eD/wSo dialects of today. We then examine the maintenance of the traditional non-standard lexicon of the eD/wSo
phonological lexical change dialect east devon west somerset survey phonological lexical change_occur dialect east devon west somerset survey use data record present author three_separate generation informant construct detailed_account phonological_system non_standard lexicon dialect exist today compare data record area survey english dialects present diachronic_synchronic description phonology dialect first give outline account historical progression vowel consonant middle_english form place particular_emphasis upon change_occur offer phonemic analysis modern sound_system use minimal contrast provide_overview range phonetic phonemic form present dialect today examine maintenance traditional non_standard lexicon