Phonological Changes Flashcards
Phonology
Sound
Examples of phonological changes (6)
Th fronting
Ing endings
RP toning down
Ease of articulation (omission and assimilation)
Increased use of the schwa
Uptalk
Assimilation
When sounds close to each other become similar to make pronunciation simpler
E.g. Handbag to hambag
Omission
When sounds are missed out
E.g. innit
Key phonological changes Phonology in history
Great vowel shift
Who first studied the great vowel shift
Jesperson
Gvs
The further one moves away the less the effects are noticeable. Degree of vowel shift can sometimes be detected in Regional accents
Why did the GVS happen
Social mobility and social prestige
What changed in the GVS
Vowels went from long to short
Functional theory suggests change reflects the…we’re living in
Sociocultural climate
Increased use of the schwa
Schwa increasingly used in present day English
E.g. about to uhbout
Ing endings
Before the 19th century, -ing was pronounced -in, even by mid/upper classes
Th-fronting
Today, some people replace ‘th’ sound with ‘f’
RP toning down
RP lost some desriability as in the 1960s, Working class began to access higher education and celebrities began to rise with regional accents (e.g. The Beatles)
RP toning down
RP lost some desriability as in the 1960s, Working class began to access higher education and celebrities began to rise with regional accents (e.g. The Beatles)
