Accent and Language Change - SUZANNE WILLIAMS

Question 1

DR. KAREN CORRIGAN

Answer 1

The impact of globalisation on British regional accents
- Immigration has invigorated local accents - created new hybrid forms, more phonological choices

E.G. Labov’s study of Martha’s Vineyard (1961)

Question 2

Power of the media - dispelling negatives

Answer 2

1960s

- Scouse became the apex of cool in the working classes due to popularity of Paul McCartney et al.

Question 3

The Queen’s English

Answer 3

1950’s Christmas Day Speech: ‘had’ rhymed with ‘bed’
Modern day: Now uses more common pronunciation
- argued to correspond with the modernisation of The Royal Family

Question 4

KERSWILL - Milton Keynes Study

Answer 4

Young people start to socialise less with their families and more with their peers - linguistic change
- change is normal in modulation:
E.g. speaking well in interviews (code-switching?)