Paul Kerswill + Ann Williams

• What was their study for?

  Wanted to analyze extent to whether adolescent speakers in 3 different locations converge
• When and where did Kerswill's experiment take place?

  During 1998

  • Reading (close to london)
  • Milton keys (further away from London)
  • Hull (Way further North)

  Each location was similar in size
• Results that Kerswill got from his 3 locations

  Reading:

  • young generation changing accent to become more like London older generation

  Milton Keys:

  • younger speakers rejecting traditional accent
  • Younger speakers - emphasis on 'y' (my), fronts their vowels
  • Older speakers - pronounce 'y' as 'oy' (moy)

  Hull:

  • 'h' dropping
  • Glottilization
  • e.g. brother = bruver
• Kerswill measured the extent of dialect levelling in his study within younger speakers.

  Dialect levelling is a phenomenon where dialects lose their distinct differences and begin to share common language forms
• How has dialect levelling impact UK

  • increased geographical mobility over past 40 years
  • Declined population in inner towns
  • new towns created through and after WW2 tend to be more socially mobile - language change
• Conclusion made by Kerswill on his study during 1998

  South:

  • young speakers rejecting older speakers in favour of non-regional/ variants used in wider area
  • look down on Northern pronunciations (bAth)

  North:

  • adhere to local forms and continue using them (they are mostly middle class)
  • view southerns as snobbish

  
  

  There is a North-South divide due to:

  • rate of change and types of change
  • inter marriage between habitants